Tactical Team assists in Kaw City arrest

Zachery W. Bethel

KAW CITY — The Kay County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by other Kay County agencies, took Zachery Bethel of Shidler into custody Wednesday night in Kaw City. 

The sheriff’s office determined at 6:32 p.m. that Bethel and a woman were barricaded in an RV in an RV park on State Highway 11. Just before 7 p.m., the woman left the RV and Bethel remained inside.

Minutes later, Kay County Undersheriff Sean Grigsba called Ponca City Police Chief Don Bohon to ask for assistance from the Ponca City Police Department Tactical Team.

Bethel was a wanted subject and was refusing to cooperate, Grigsba said.

The Tactical Team was activated and responded to Kaw City to assist other area law enforcement personnel on scene.

Bethel was talked into surrendering and the Tactical Team members helped take him into custody, and helped clear the trailer to make sure no other people were inside. The team was released about 8:30 p.m.

Bethel was arrested in 2013 and charged with conspiracy; falsely personating another to create liability; possession of forged instruments; taking/receiving stolen credit or debit cards; two counts of second-degree forgery; and possession of a controlled dangerous substance. All were felony charges after two or more former convictions.

An additional 14 counts were filed in April 2014, but were dismissed in August 2014. Bethel then pleaded guilty to the seven original counts. The court accepted the guilty plea and sentenced Bethel to 15 years in the Department of Corrections. However, after serving five years, the balance of the sentence would be suspended, on conditions of complying with DOC supervision for one year; complying with the District Attorney’s supervision for two years, with six months suspended; filing a meth offender registration and paying all assessments ordered by the court. He was fined $2,000 on each count with additional court costs.

Kay County Court records show a bench warrant was issued for Bethel in June 2018 with bond set at $25,000, after he failed to appear in court several times when ordered. On June 28, 2019, an amended order to revoke his suspended sentence was filed in Kay County District Court.

In January 2016, Bethel pleaded guilty to a felony count of Conspiracy to commit a felony in Osage County District Court.

He was sentenced to 17 years in the Department of Corrections, with time suspended to run concurrently with the Kay County sentence.

Kay County Sheriff Steve Kelley said Thursday morning that new charges may be filed against Bethel, but it is too early in the investigation to say what charges might be filed.