Two south Deschutes County raids turn up illegal marijuana grows, guns, cash and mushrooms; 2 arrested, 2 cited
La PINE, Ore. (KTVZ) – Two people were arrested and two others cited as Deschutes County sheriff’s detectives conducted two simultaneous south-county raids on illegal marijuana grows last week that also turned up guns, cash and psilocybin mushrooms, deputies said Wednesday.
Detectives with the sheriff’s office Illegal Marijuana Market Enforcement team wrapped up a long-term investigation with search warrants executed around 8 a.m. last Thursday in the 52000 block of Ponderosa Way west of La Pine and the 55000 block of Osprey Road in the Oregon Water Wonderland 2 subdivision between Sunriver and La Pine, Sergeant Jason Wall said
“Both addresses were being used in conjunction with one another to produce illegal marijuana,” Wall said in a news release.
During the search of the two locations, 461 marijuana plants in various sages of growth were located and seized, along with more than 5 ½ pounds of processed marijuana. Seven guns and cash also were seized, along with more than 23 pounds of processed psilocybin mushrooms.
Based on recent Oregon/Idaho drug pricing from 2023, the seized psilocybin mushrooms were valued at over $35,000, Wall said. Detectives believe both the illegal marijuana and psilocybin was destined for the black market.
A 34-year-old man and 28-year-old woman were arrested and booked into the county jail on felony charges of illegal manufacture of marijuana and illegal manufacture/possession of psilocybin.
A 36-year-old man was cited on a felony charge of illegal marijuana manufacture and a misdemeanor of attempted manufacture. A 38-year-old woman was cited on a misdemeanor charge of attempted marijuana manufacture.
The jailed man was released the next morning, with charges not yet filed. The jailed woman also has not yet been charged, but posted bail on a warrant out of Montana for theft, due in court there next month and was released on Saturday, jail officials said.
District Attorney Steve Gunnels said charges are expected to be filed soon. NewsChannel 21 policy is not to name arrested individuals until and unless formal charges are filed.
This investigation is ongoing, Wall said, and anyone with information regarding the case is encouraged to report their information to Deschutes County 911 non-emergency at (541) 693-6911.
The illegal marijuana enforcement team said it wants to thank the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement, Bend Police Department, Redmond Police Department, Oregon State Police, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Oregon National Guard, Oregon Water Resources Department and Deschutes County Code Enforcement for their assistance in the case.
