Big gun, drug bust in Kearney, Funk

KEARNEY, Neb. — The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP), with support from the NSP SWAT Team and the TRIDENT and CODE Task Forces, arrested multiple individuals following the discovery of firearms and controlled substances during an ongoing narcotics investigation.

Early Thursday morning, the NSP SWAT Team and TRIDENT Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence in the 2500 block of 8th Avenue in Kearney. Investigators uncovered 12 firearms, approximately 11 pounds of marijuana, 1 gram of cocaine, 4 pounds of THC wax concentrate, and 4 dozen psilocybin mushroom candy bars. The suspects were also linked to a secondary location in Funk.

In a coordinated operation, the CODE Task Force served a simultaneous search warrant at a residence in the 200 block of Main Street in Funk. Investigators found an additional five firearms along with a small amount of marijuana products and psilocybin mushrooms. Dakota Hancock, 29, was arrested on charges of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance. He was detained at the Phelps County Jail.

Investigators also apprehended Kearney resident Shane Martin, 36, at his workplace. Martin was charged with possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute within a school zone and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was lodged in the Buffalo County Jail.

The NSP received assistance from the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) Police Department and other TRIDENT Task Force agencies, including the Kearney Police Department, Minden Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI. The CODE Task Force comprises officers from multiple police agencies in southwest and west-central Nebraska.