Friday, February 10, 2012

Wichita police officers have arrested 13 people following a drug bust at a north Wichita motel.

It happened at the Mark 8 Inn, 1130 N. Broadway, around 6:30 a.m. Friday. The arrests stemmed from a three-month investigation, police said.

Officers served seven search warrants; confiscating crack cocaine, marijuana and cash. More than 40 officers from the Wichita Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation assisted with the search.

"Folks could freely walk into the the hotel lobby areas where this was at and be directed to rooms where they were selling the crack cocaine and or right out in the hallway," said Capt. Jeff Easter, Wichita police.

Authorities said neighbors and motel guests called police to report the drug transactions. Officials said managers knew about the activity taking place at the motel, but did not alert law enforcement officers.

"It's a two way street here, if we're going to feed them information, I also expect them to act on it," said Steven Forsythe, hotel manager. "If they don't act on it, this is what it comes to, warrants and entry."

Forsythe told KAKE news he hopes the raid sends a message that his hotel does not tolerate drug activity.

This is an ongoing investigation, and more arrests could be made.