Bust nets $320K in meth, 51 lbs. of pot and more in Yuma County

YUMA COUNTY, Colo. -- A shooting investigating in far eastern Colorado led authorities to a major drug bust.

The Yuma County Sheriff's Office said it was notified that a man, who had been shot in the hand, was at the Yuma District Hospital Emergency Room.

After several interviews, a BOLO was issued for a black Chevy Equinox being driven by 30-year-old Johnny Payne, authorities said.

Payne was arrested hours later at the swimming pool in Yuma.

Deputies said the investigation led them to believe the shooting happened on a county road north of Yuma.

A search of a nearby home "yielded important evidence for the shooting case as well as an extremely large amount of suspected methamphetamine (approximately 7 pounds), cocaine (approximately 3 ounces), marijuana and marijuana concentrates in various forms (approximately 51 pounds), ecstasy, suspected synthetic drugs, several prescription drugs, firearms and other illegal weapons, and stolen antiques from a reported burglary earlier in the summer," according to the Sheriff's Office.

Officials said the methamphetamine alone had a street value of nearly $320,000.

Payne was arrested on suspicion of assault, possession of Schedule II controlled substance, Illegal discharge of a firearm, prohibited use of a firearm, possession of a weapon by previous offender and menacing.

A man at the home, 29-year-old Joshua Hansen, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of Schedule II controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, extraction of marijuana concentrate, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, theft, possession of an illegal weapon, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.