2 jailed, teen cited in Redmond marijuana-deal fight

(Update: Adding details of fireworks-sparked fire at John Tuck Elementary)

Two Redmond-area residents were arrested and a third cited Wednesday after a fight at Redmond’s American Legion Park over the sale of alleged poor-quality marijuana, police said Thursday, just one incident on a very busy day of illegal fireworks and nearly 160 calls for service.

Police went to the park shortly before 3 p.m. after a 911 caller claimed a robbery had just occurred, Lt. Curtis Chambers said. The initial reports indicated a knife was brandished and $40 was taken from the victim.

Officers rushed to the scene and contacted the suspects as they left in a vehicle, Chambers said. An investigation found that two groups were involved in a dispute over the sale of alleged poor quality of marijuana.

Chambers said two 17-year-olds confronted two adults who had sold them the marijuana, wanting their money back. A knife allegedly was brandished, but police could not confirm that, only that a physical fight began among the four people and all sustained minor injuries.

After the investigation, a Redmond-area resident, Sebastian Dubar, 21, and Dominica Wallace, 20, of Redmond, were arrested for unlawful marijuana delivery, a misdemeanor, and taken to the Deschutes County Jail in Bend, where they later were released. One of the 17-year-old males was issued a citation for minor in possession of marijuana.

In the 24 hours starting at 6 a.m. Wednesday, Chambers said Redmond police responded to or initiated 158 incidents, and 50 of them involved complaints of illegal fireworks.

One officer witnessed an intoxicated male light an illegal firework in front of him and ultimately arrested the person for a probation violation.

Redmond police assisted Redmond Fire & Rescue on a report of a fireworks-caused fire at John Tuck Elementary School.

Redmond School District spokesman Rainier Butler said fireworks made for a “close call” at John Tuck Elementary, burning juniper shrubs along the south side of the library, “with flames shooting well above the rooftop.”

“The brick siding kept the fire from penetrating the building,” Butler said, adding that there was no significant damage to the property or injuries, just “some crispy junipers.”

Also, a dispute between individuals at the Deschutes County Fairgrounds stemmed from a disagreement over illegal fireworks. A report was taken and is still being investigated, Chambers said.

Redmond police officers did not arrest any DUII drivers during the evening of July 4 and early morning hours of July 5. “Calls for service took time away from the on-duty officers to proactively look for impaired drivers,” Chambers said.

“The Redmond Police Department would like to remind every one of the extreme fire danger that exists in our area,” the lieutenant’s news release concluded. “While Independence Day has passed, the fire danger remains. Your Redmond Police Department is appreciative of the continued support of all of Central Oregon.”