Four Arrested in NE Prineville Meth Raid

Acting on tips from the public, four Prineville residents have been arrested on methamphetamine-related charges in a drug raid on a northeast Prineville home across the street from Pioneer High School, authorities said Thursday.

Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team detectives, assisted by Prineville police and Crook County sheriff?s deputies, executed a search warrant around 7 a.m. Tuesday at a home at 807 NE Third Street, said Lt. Ken Mannix.

The raid resulted from a CODE Team investigation into methamphetamine sales and manufacturing, Mannix said, adding that the agency had received information from concerned citizens about alleged illegal activities at the residence.

The four taken into custody were identified as Richard Wayne Harlan, 39; Shannon Ritchie, 40; Deborah Wilson, 35; and Jack Manecke, 30, all of Prineville.

At the home, detectives seized ?user amounts? of methamphetamine and marijuana, packaging material, scales, drug records and other evidence of meth sales and manufacturing, the lieutenant said.

Because of the school?s proximity, the suspects also are charged with manufacture, distribution and/or possession within 1,000 feet of a school, Mannix said.

The four were taken to the Crook County Jail, where Harlan and Ritchie remained held Thursday on $125,000 and $175,000 bail, respectively. Wilson and Manecke, who faced lesser charges, were released later Tuesday under the jail?s matrix to deal with overcrowding.