Redmond SWAT team drug raid leads to arrest

A week-long investigation of drug sales and stolen property led to a police and SWAT team raid on a southwest Redmond home Thursday afternoon, the seizure of numerous drugs and cash and the arrest of a 43-year-old resident whose medical marijuana card expired more than six months ago, police said Friday.

Jason Leon Lark was stopped by police while driving with a suspended driver’s license near his home just before the search warrant was executed around 3:30 p.m. at 1546 SW Parkway Drive, said Sgt. Brad McMurrian.

Members of the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team and Redmond police raided the home and found a large quantity of drugs, including 40 marijuana plants, more than two pounds of dried marijuana, over an ounce of methamphetamine, more than seven grams of heroin and over 600 narcotic prescription pills., including Oxycontin, Oxycodone and morphine, McMurrian said.

Police also seized more than $3,000 in cash believed to be related to drug sales, along with drug records, scales, packaging materials and stolen property – including over 1 million Iraqi dinar, currently valued at about $850 in U.S. dollars.

Lark and a housemate who was not charged previously were registered with the Oregon Medical Marijuana program, but their registration expired over six months ago, the sergeant said.

Lark was arrested and booked into the Deschutes County Jail in Bend on numerous drug possession, manufacture and delivery charges, as well as first-degree theft by receiving and misdemeanor driving with a suspended license, McMurrian said.

The sergeant reminded residents that Redmond police are “committed to improving quality of life in Central Oregon by addressing issues of drugs and theft proactively.”

Citizens can report crime and provide tips to police by contacting the Redmond Police Department at 541-504-3400, completing an online incident report at the agency’s Website or Facebook page, or calling Deschutes County non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911.