CODE agents arrest Bend man after discovering drug deals in parking lot; raid on minivan and storage unit turns up meth

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Drug agents in Central Oregon spotted a suspicious minivan in a parking lot on NE Third Street Tuesday afternoon, the driver of which appeared to be dealing drugs. They followed the vehicle to a nearby storage unit, arrested the Bend man and searched the vehicle and storage unit, finding a commercial-grade amount of methamphetamine.

The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team concluded the short-term investigation and surveillance operation around 2:30 p.m. with the arrest of a 54-year-old Bend man, said Sergeant Kent Vander Kamp.

Narcotics agents were in the area of ​​Third Street and Mervin Samples Road when they noticed the Chrysler Pacifica in the parking lot and recognized the driver from previous drug investigations, Vander Kamp said.

After a brief surveillance operation, CODE detectives, working with Bend police, intercepted the suspect in a Chrysler Pacifica at a nearby storage complex on Sherman Road, the sergeant said.

CODE drug detection dog Bonnie was deployed and alerted her handler to the presence of a controlled substance in the minivan and in the storage unit in front of which it was parked, Vander Kamp said.

Drug agents applied to a district judge for a search warrant for the vehicle and storage room, which was granted. They found a commercially available amount of meth and a double-edged switchblade knife.

The suspect was booked into the Deschutes County Jail and charged with possession of meth, attempted distribution and possession of a dangerous weapon.

NewsChannel 21's policy is not to release the names of arrested individuals until formal charges have been filed.