A man was arrested early Saturday, Dec. 14, after Great Bend Police officers responded to a report of an armed domestic disturbance involving a knife and a handgun. Police Chief Steve Haulmark reports the suspect, Zachary Ortiz, 34, also pointed a gun a the officers but complied when he was told to put it down. Further investigation revealed the weapon was a BB gun.

According to police reports, Great Bend Police Department officers were dispatched to a residence in the 700 block of Morphy St. at approximately 1:55 a.m. Saturday.

“Prior to the officers’ arrival, the female victim reported that she was inside the residence and that she feared for her life. After not getting a response at the door, officers forced entry and observed (Ortiz) to be standing in the living room and to be pointing a weapon towards them.”

After he put the BB gun down, Ortiz was arrested without further incident and booked into the Barton County Jail for aggravated domestic battery, aggravated assault, aggravated assault against a law enforcement officer and possession of a weapon by a person convicted of a person felony. He was booked and released after posting a $20,000 surety through Around the Clock Bail Bonds.

The female victim was located and evaluated on scene by Great Bend Fire Department EMS. 

According to the Kansas Department of Corrections online Offender Population Search, Ortiz has multiple convictions in Douglas County dating back to aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer that occurred on June 22, 2014. He was released and came to Barton County in 2022. His sentences expired in 2023.

Anyone with information on this case or any other case is encouraged to contact the Great Bend Police Department at 620-793-4120 or Barton County Crime Stoppers at 620-792-1300 or online at p3tips.com.