Bend citizen’s drug-deal tip leads to arrest, K-9 bite

A citizen tip of a possible drug deal that just occurred in a northeast Bend shopping center parking lot Sunday afternoon brought police to the scene and led to charges against two Bend men, one a fugitive who was bitten by a police dog after refusing to stop, officers said.

Police got a tip shortly after 1 p.m. from a citizen who reported having just witnessed a possible drug deal in the parking lot of Macy’s at the Bend River Promenade on North Highway 97, said Lt. Brian Kindel. The caller gave a detailed description to officers heading to the scene, with one person described as wearing a Trail Blazers jersey and who reportedly went into the Macy’s store, Kindel said.

Officers contacted Dakota Deters, 24, near the described car, a white Volvo. Kindel said Deters tried to walk away from officers but was quickly detained, while a second man, Stephen Davies, 23, started to come out of Macy’s, but saw officers and went back inside.

Arriving Officer Victor Umnitz and his K-9 partner Rony went around to the back of Macy’s, where Davies was seen leaving out the back, Kindel said.

Davies was contacted, but pulled away from the officer and ran toward Kohl’s while reaching into his waistband area, the sergeant said.

The K-9 was deployed and the officer ordered Davies to stop, Kindel said. The suspect stopped and put his hands in the air, and Umnitz called off Rony – but then Davies began to run again, and the officer again deployed his dog, who apprehended Davies.

Davis received a non-life-threatening bite to his lower leg, Kindel said. He also was found to be wanted on an outstanding warrant for violating parole.

Davies was taken to St. Charles Bend for treatment of the dog bite, then to the Deschutes County Jail, where he was held without bail on the parole violation warrant. He also faces new charges of interfering with a police officer and resisting arrest.

During the investigation, Deters was found to possess methamphetamine and was cited on that charge and released at the scene, Kindel said.