Three Bend men arrested on meth, other charges

The arrest of one Bend man on drug charges nearly two weeks ago led to this week’s arrest of a plumbing company co-worker at a Redmond construction site and the second suspect’s twin brother, Central Oregon drug agents said Friday.

Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team detectives and Bend police contacted Albert Herrera, 54, on Aug. 31 around 9:30 p.m. near the intersection of Northeast Revere Avenue and Fourth Street, said Lt. Ken Mannix.

Herrera had been the subject of a month-long drug investigation and was driving his company-issued Summit Plumbing van at the time, Mannix said. But the lieutenant stressed that CODE Team detectives “have no indication that the owner(s) or company … are involved and they are not under investigation” by drug agents.

During the contact, a drug-detection dog alerted to the presence of drugs inside the van, but Herrera broke off contact with officers by rolling up his driver’s side window and locking the doors, Mannix said.

Herrera ignored officers’ repeated requests to get out, so detectives used a breaching tool to enter the van and took him into custody without incident. He possessed about 15 grams of methamphetamine at the time, the lieutenant said.

During their investigation, CODE Team detectives learned one of Herrera’s coworkers, Ronald Reed, 51, was involved in trafficking large quantities of meth throughout Deschutes County, as well supplying Reed with the drug, Mannix said. Detectives used “various investigative techniques” to identify Reed’s modes of operation, associated vehicles and customer basis.

On Wednesday around 8 a.m., CODE detectives arrested Reed at a Redmond construction site as he arrived for work, Mannix said. Detectives found meth on Reed, as well as in his company work vehicle.

After the arrest, detectives raided Reed’s home in the 61000 block of Southwest Chuckanut Drive, seizing about an ounce of meth, drug paraphernalia, packaging material, scales and other evidence of meth sales, distribution and manufacturing, and obscene material, Mannix said.

Detectives also learned an 8-year-old child lives at the home, and state DHS (Child Welfare) responded to investigate.

Evidence and information obtained at Reed’s home indicated the involvement of Reed’s twin brother, Donald Reed, 51, who lives at the same home, the officer said. CODE detectives contacted Donald Reed at a nearby home and arrested him without incident.

All three men were charged with meth possession, manufacturing and distribution, while Herrera also was charged with interfering with a police officer. The Reeds also were charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, displaying of obscene material to a minor and frequenting a place where drugs are used.

Herrera was released Sept. 1 after posting 10 percent of his $55,000 bail, while Ronald Reed was released Wednesday after posting 10 percent of $50,000 bail and Donald Reed was released the same day on his own recognizance.