Bend Pair Arrested in Methamphetamine Bust

Two Bend residents were arrested on drug possession, manufacture and distribution charges late last week during a traffic stop in northeast Bend, drug agents said Tuesday.

Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team detectives contacted the pair, Jonah Schmidt, 35, and Christopher Hulgan, 39, around 8 p.m. last Thursday at the intersection of Butler Market Road and Madison Avenue, said Lt. Ken Mannix.

The pair was traveling in a Subaru station wagon at the time, Mannix said. They had been the subject of an investigation and are accused of methamphetamine sales and manufacturing in Deschutes County, he said.

At the time of the contact, a drug-sniffing dog was deployed and alerted to the presence of narcotics in their vehicle, Mannix said.

A subsequent police search led to the discovering of about 1/3 of an ounce of meth and a small amount of marijuana, both packaged for sale, the lieutenant said.

Other items seized included a gun, scales, packaging material, cash and other evidence of drug sales and manufacturing, Mannix said.

Both suspects were still being held Tuesday at the county jail, facing methamphetamine charges. Schmidt?s bail was $50,000; Hulgan was held without bail on a parole violation charge and also is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.