March 14, 2025 – Topeka, KS
A Topeka man with a history of run-ins with law enforcement has been arrested in what authorities are calling a significant drug bust near a local school.
Quentin Kirk Lawton, 45, was booked into the Shawnee County Jail on March 13, 2025, on multiple felony charges, including drug distribution within 1,000 feet of a school, criminal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture or cultivate a controlled substance, and unlawful acquisition of proceeds from drug transactions.
Lawton’s bond has been set at $15,000, but he is also under a federal hold, signaling potential federal charges in connection with the case. Law enforcement officials have not yet released full details on the scope of the investigation but indicated that additional charges may follow.
This is not Lawton’s first brush with the law. In 2016, he pleaded guilty to making false statements to federal investigators during the search for fugitive Orlando J. Collins. That case ended in a deadly standoff at a Topeka motel, where Collins shot two U.S. Marshals and an FBI agent before a fire broke out, killing him. Lawton’s role in the case drew national attention as he was accused of misleading authorities in their manhunt for Collins.
The current charges suggest Lawton remained active in the local drug trade despite his past legal troubles. Authorities have not disclosed whether the seized drugs or firearms were part of a larger operation, but the charges related to distribution near a school add to the severity of the case.
Shawnee County officials have emphasized the importance of cracking down on drug-related crimes, especially those involving weapons and activity near schools. More details are expected to be released as the case progresses through the legal system.
Lawton is scheduled for his next court appearance on June 5, 2025.
