Four Bend residents arrested in drug raid on NE Bend home

Citizen complaints about possible drug activity at a northeast Bend home led to the arrest of four Mill City residents as they left in a pickup and a raid six days later that brought the arrest of four Bend residents on drug charges. Five children were at the home at the time, bringing charges of endangering the welfare of a minor, police said.

Bend police had received complaints about numerous short-term visits to the home, in the 900 block of Northeast 12 th Street, said Lt. Clint Burleigh.

As officers conducted surveillance of the home on August 7, officers saw a white Ford F-150 stop, stay for a brief period and leave, Burleigh said.

Officers stopped the pickup for an unspecified violation and conducted a drug investigation, assisted by a Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office narcotics K-9 team, the officer said.

The four Mill City residents in the car – Klint Wise, 34; Randy Rsch, 61; Jesse Rene Gust, 21; and Janene Gust, 57 – were in possession of over 97 grams of methamphetamine, with nearly 40 grams packaged for sales, Burleigh said.

Wise also was found to possess a Springfield XD 9 mm handgun; due to his criminal history, he is not allowed to possess a firearm.

During the attempt to arrest Wise, he tried to escape custody and resisted officers’ efforts, but was located and taken into custody. Along with drug charges, he was charged with resisting arrest and felon in possession of a firearm. He also had an active arrest warrant from another state.

The case and other information led to a search warrant that was executed Sunday by Bend police, assisted by the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team.

Contacted at the home were Micaela Zacarias, Leah Adkins, 38; Rachel Mahoney, 42; and Ryan Atkins, 45. Burleigh said five children under age 18 were at the home at the time of the raid, which turned up evidence including methamphetamine and items used in the drug’s sales.

The four were booked into the Deschutes County Jail on drug charges, as well as endangering the welfare of a minor and frequenting a place where drugs are used, kept or sold.

“The Bend Police Department understands the importance of safe neighborhoods, and this is an example of working on a neighborhood program” Burleigh wrote in the news release. “Our goal is to help neighborhoods become safer, so our citizens can enjoy everything has to offer.”