HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The trial for one of two Hutchinson residents arrested in February of 2013 for a drug distribution case saw the charges dropped Thursday to protect the investigations in two other cases involving what District Attorney Keith Schroeder described as “extreme violence.”
The case against 21-year-old Derrick Taylor was scheduled to resume at 11 a.m. Thursday after a recess from the previous day, but the state wanted some evidence withheld from the defense, but was willing to provide a redacted version of that evidence. Judge Trish Rose denied the state’s request. Schroeder says they then requested a protection order in the case, which was also denied. So they decided they would drop the charges against Taylor to protect those other investigations.
Taylor was arrested along with 43-year-old Marla Thomas. Both were charged with possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of marijuana, no drug tax stamp, and personal use drug paraphernalia. The marijuana charge against Taylor shows he has a prior conviction.
The case centers on the Reno County Drug Unit doing a search of a home on East B, back on Feb. 16, 2013. They allegedly found crack cocaine, powder cocaine and marijuana.
But, the case against Taylor was dismissed to protect the other investigations.
Taylor was apparently arrested this past weekend for failing to appear in another case.