Court date set in 2011 drug distribution case

Monica Gehrig of Sidney was arrested after an extensive investigation by the Western Nebraska Intelligence & Narcotics Group Task Force and Sidney police on charges of distribution of a controlled substance. The incident took place within 1,000 feet of a school.

Gehrig is currently being held in Garden County. She is scheduled to appear in Cheyenne County Court on August XX.

Interest in Gehrig's activities began in March of 2011 when a WING investigator received a telephone call from a cooperating individual informing him that they could make a purchase of marijuana from a person only known as Monica. Her last name was unknown at the time, but she was known to live at an address on 2nd Ave. in Sidney. During the conversation, the individual claimed he or she had never used the drug in Monica's presence.

The investigator set up a meeting with the informant, in the meantime confirming through the housing authority that a Monica Gehrig lived at that address.

A Sidney police officer and another WING investigator were called to assist with surveillance in the case. The pair recorded public activities and kept an eye on traffic to and from the residence.

Investigators eventually had cause to set up a buy, using the original informant. The first attempt went awry, according to court documents, when the informant was told at that the person or persons present at Gehrig's home believed they were to smoke marijuana that night. If a buy was intented, it would have to be another day.

On March 17 of 2011, the individual contacted WING and said he could purchase Percocet, a pain killer, from Gehrig.

This time, the person was able to buy a total of 11 tablets of controlled substances, as well as marijuana.

WING had the items confirmed by the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Laboratory before making the arrest.