BEATRICE – Stoddard Elementary School in Beatrice went through a brief lock-out this morning.  The reason…Gage County Sheriff’s Deputies were serving a search warrant at a home a couple blocks north of the school.

Beatrice Police Lieutenant Jay Murphy says the elementary building lock-out began at 8:45 a.m. and lasted only about 15 minutes.  

He said it’s a precautionary measure that is taken in case anyone flees the scene of the search warrant.   The warrant had been issued as part of a drug investigation, and the home is located along Bell Street. 

Gage County Sheriff’s deputies, the Nebraska State Patrol and Beatrice Police served the warrant at 710 Bell St. in Beatrice … part of an investigation involving methamphetamine distribution occurring in Gage County.

During the search, 56-year-old Dale Riepenkroger, of Beatrice, was located inside and was detained.

Authorities located a small amount of suspected methamphetamine, 2 unused plastic zip-lock baggies, a meth pipe, and a small amount of marijuana. They also found two prohibited weapons. Riepenkroger, they say, is a convicted felon.