Alleged Bend cocaine dealer arrested after drug bust; Raid in motel room, car reveals various drugs, cash, gun

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A 36-year-old Bend man was recently arrested on cocaine trafficking charges after leaving a motel room. A subsequent raid of that room and his vehicle uncovered a variety of drugs, scales, packaging materials, a firearm and cash, authorities said Wednesday.

The man was arrested after the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team conducted an investigation and long-term surveillance on the suspect during an apparent drug deal and later at a motel near of Third Street and Greenwood Avenue, Lt. Mike Landolt said in a news release Wednesday.

The man was taken into custody without any problems and taken to the Deschutes County Jail, where he was booked on charges of possession of cocaine, as well as manufacturing and delivery of cocaine. A prison official said he was released on his own recognizance that night, pending a court hearing scheduled for July 11.

NewsChannel 21's policy is not to name arrested suspects until formal charges are filed, and there was no record of such charges in court records Wednesday evening.

Last Thursday, around 7 p.m., CODE Team drug agents conducting surveillance spotted an apparent drug transaction in the area of ​​NE Division Street and Vail Avenue when someone walked toward the suspect's vehicle , Landolt said.

The person who encountered the suspect left the scene in a vehicle that was stopped by CODE detectives, assisted by Bend police, in the area of ​​South Division Street and Reed Market Road. Landolt said he seized a quantity of cocaine. They do not identify the person.

Drug agents had probable cause to arrest the suspect for delivery of cocaine, so they set up surveillance in the motel room. He left his room around 8:30 a.m. and was taken into custody by the CODE team and Bend police “without any issues,” the lieutenant said.

CODE detectives requested and obtained a search warrant for the man's hotel room and vehicle, conducting the search around 9:30 p.m. During the search, drug agents seized cocaine, ecstasy, Xanax, psilocybin mushrooms, a handgun, scales, packaging materials. and money, Landolt said.

More charges could be filed, Landolt said, as the investigation is ongoing.