A man was jailed for selling drugs at a homeless camp in the south part of Bend. According to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, On August 7, 2023, at approximately 7:30 PM, the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team concluded an investigation with the arrest of a 31-year-old Bend man.
After receiving information from a subsequent investigation, CODE detectives identified the suspect as a fentanyl trafficker in the China Hat Road homeless encampment. The initial investigation alleges he imported controlled substances from the Portland area into central Oregon and the China Hat encampment, where he distributed them.
At approximately 7:30 PM, the suspect was contacted during a traffic stop on China Hat Rd near Sunset View Dr for traffic violations after a multi-day surveillance operation by CODE Detectives.
During the traffic stop, CODE Drug Detection K9 “Bonnie” was deployed and alerted to the presence of controlled substances inside his Oldsmobile. Afterwards, the suspect consented to a search of his vehicle. CODE Detectives and Deschutes County Sheriff Deputies gathered and seized a commercial quantity of fake pharmaceutical tablets made of fentanyl and separate packages of powdered fentanyl. He also possessed a commercial quantity of cocaine and a large amount of US Currency.
The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team will continue prioritizing and focusing on drug traffickers, violent crimes, weapons offenses, and fugitives within the homeless encampments around the central Oregon region.
In June of 2023, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2645, later signed by Governor Kotek. As a result, a “commercial quantity” is now defined by statute as five grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl or 25 or more user units (i.e. pills), or any substituted derivative of fentanyl as defined by the rules of the Oregon Board of Pharmacy. This is not a separate criminal charge but rather an increase in the sentencing guidelines.
It is crucial to call 911 when someone is overdosing from opioids. If naloxone or Narcan is used, the effects are temporary, and the person still needs immediate medical attention. After the medication wears off, the person could fall back into a coma.
If you call 911 to get help for someone having a drug overdose, Oregon’s Good Samaritan Law protects you from being arrested or prosecuted for drug-related charges or parole/probation violations based on information provided to emergency responders.
