PD: Redmond ‘medical grow’ a cover for shipping operation

Central Oregon drug agents on Friday revealed details of a major marijuana-grow raid a month ago on a northwest Redmond property that led to two arrests and the seizure of nearly 60 pot plants, many over 11 feet tall. Investigators said a personal-use medical marijuana grow site was being used as a cover for a pot growing and multi-state shipping operation.

Detectives with the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) Team, assisted by the Central Oregon Emergency Response (CERT) Team and Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies, executed a search warrant around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 1, on a parcel at 3030 NW Euston Lane, off Northwest Way in Redmond, said CODE Team Lt. Paul Kansky.

An investigation found evidence that a marijuana grow at that location “was out of compliance and illegal in nature,” Kansky said in a news release, finding “that marijuana was being shipped out of the state on several occasions and being sold and delivered for profit.”

During the raid on a barn and large greenhouse on the property, officers seized evidence including 56 mature marijuana plants, many measuring over 11 feet tall, Kansky said. They also seized a stolen handgun, a rifle, packaged, processed marijuana, several pounds of marijuana edibles, drug paraphernalia, cash and vehicles.

CODE estimated the value of the seized marijuana plants, based on their estimated yield, at $500,000 to $675,000.

A neighbor told NewsChannel 21 at the time that a large dump truck was brought in to haul away items from the property.

The investigation has found more evidence of “significant ties to the eastern United States,” Kansky said. “Over $200,000 cash was seized by the Illinois State Police which was determined to be directly related to this case.”

Two residents were arrested at the home on the property: the alleged leader of the operation, David Harlan Ross, 21, and John Raymond Cuddeback, 34, Kansky said.

Both were taken to the Deschutes County Jail in Bend on drug manufacturing, delivery and felony possession charges.

But jail officials said Ross was released just over an hour later that night, after posting 10 percent of his $40,000 bail, while Cuddeback was released the next evening after posting 10 percent of his $1,000 bail.

Kansky said the site was an Oregon medical marijuana grow site for one person – whether it was for one of the arrested men or someone else, he would not say.

“The investigation supports that this site was not at all a medical marijuana site at its core, but was a cover for the suspect(s) to manufacture, deliver and possess marijuana for profit,” the lieutenant said.

Kansky also would not comment on whether other arrests are forthcoming or on the specifics of the alleged marijuana-shipping operation, other than to say “evidence supports they were (shipping to other states) and receiving money from other states for payment.”