The Great Bend Police Department reports Ernest Klima, 58, of Great Bend, was arrested Thursday, less than a week after being released on bond. He was booked into the Barton County Jail on an outstanding Barton County warrant and on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and battery on a law enforcement officer.

According to reports, an officer was at Walmart around 12:21 p.m. on March 5 and saw Klima at the store. The officer had knowledge that Klima had a Barton County District Court Warrant for his arrest. 

Klima had been arrested on Feb. 28 in Great Bend for a narcotics law violation. Klima was booked at the Barton County Detention Center on Feb. 28 and bonded out on Feb. 29.

The officer made contact with Klima in the store on Thursday and in the process of arresting Klima on the outstanding warrant, Klima allegedly battered the officer. “At the time of the arrest, Klima was trying to discard drugs that were on Klima’s person,” according to the GBPD news release.

Klima was subdued and the arrest was made. The officer then reportedly located methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia on Klima’s person.

He is being held in lieu of a $10,000 bond on the narcotics law violation charges and a no bond on the Barton District Court warrant. 

Anyone with information reference this crime or any other crime is asked to call the Great Bend Police Department, 620-793-4120, or Crime Stoppers, 620-792-1300.