A Topeka man accused of distributing drugs near an Emporia school with a small child present has his next court hearing scheduled.
Rafael Garcia, age 27, has his preliminary hearing Feb. 3 after his first appearance in Lyon County District Court on Wednesday.
Garcia has two counts of of distributing meth within 1,000 feet of Walnut Elementary, as well as two counts of using a cell phone as part of the crime. He is also charged with single counts of possessing marijuana and methamphetamine, as well as single counts of interfering with law enforcement and aggravated child endangerment by being involved with meth distribution activities with an infant present.
Garcia was arrested Saturday after Emporia Police started a narcotics investigation at 917 Lawrence with a search warrant. Garcia was never specified as the person who allegedly barricaded himself inside the house, causing a brief shelter-in-place alert for the immediate neighborhood, but officers say he was arrested on suspicion of distributing methamphetamine.
