Two Culver residents arrested after large meth seizure in Jefferson County

CULVER, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Two Culver residents were arrested Wednesday afternoon after law enforcement officers seized a commercial quantity of methamphetamine during a drug investigation in Jefferson County.

José Miguel Gomez, 45 and Kristen Marie, 41, face charges of unlawful possession and unlawful delivery of methamphetamine, according to authorities.

The arrests followed a multi-month investigation by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement team and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Authorities investigated drug sales linked to the suspects' residence in the 600 block of East D Street in Culver.

Law enforcement officers initiated the operation at approximately 4 p.m. Wednesday when a Jefferson County Sheriff's deputy stopped a black 2021 Chevy SUV near Southwest Third and E streets in Madras. Oregon State Police assisted during the traffic stop. Marie was driving the vehicle and Gomez was a passenger in the rear seat. Officers detained both individuals at the scene while holding search warrants for the vehicle and the couple's home.

At approximately 4:20 p.m., officers searched the East D Street residence in Culver. During the search, investigators seized scales, packaging material, drug records and additional evidence associated with drug sales, alongside the commercial quantity of methamphetamine.

Following the search, officers arrested Marie and Gomez and transported them to the Jefferson County Jail. The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement team functions as a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, collaborating with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies across the region.