Raid on NW Bend home finds stolen property, drugs
A police investigation of a Christmas Eve burglary at a northwest Bend home eventually led to a raid on another home in the area Thursday that turned up property stolen in several thefts throughout the city, as well as Xanax pills, cocaine and a handgun, but not any items from the initial burglary, officers said.
Police also said late Friday they were seeking a man and woman suspected in the crimes.
On Dec. 24 at 8:40 p.m., Bend police responded to a home in the 2300 block of Northwest Debron Lane on a report of a burglary that just occurred. The residents said they had just returned home from a Christmas Eve service to find an unknown person at their front door. The person left after a brief conversation and the residents went inside to find their home had been burglarized.
After police arrived, Officer Kevin Uballez and K-9 Kim responded to check the area for the suspects. Deschutes County Deputy Jerimiah Johnson and K9 Ezel responded as well. Other Deschutes County Deputies and Oregon State Police Troopers also went to help.
Deputy Johnson and K9 Ezel were able to track the suspects to a neighboring home on Debron Lane. A search warrant was served on the residence Christmas morning, but the suspects and stolen property were not found, though further information for the investigation was learned.
Over the next several weeks, officers learned the victim’s Uber account had been used to take trips to and from a nearby neighborhood. Evidence located at this home tied two women, including Gabrielle Ward to the Debron Lane victim’s house.
Investigators gathered more information that led to a search warrant being issued and a raid conducted by Bend police around 4 p.m. Thursday at a home in the 100 block of Mt. Washington Drive
At that address, stolen property was recovered from other thefts throughout Bend, officers said, but none of the items stolen on Debron Lane were found.
Other items located during the raid included a handgun and user amounts of drugs, including cocaine and Xanax (Alprazolam).
There were no suspects in the home at the time of the raid, However, another family member, Goldie Ward, was contacted in front of the home, during which police said officers found she was in possession of methamphetamine and Xanax.
Goldie Ward was arrested and taken to the Deschutes County Jail and booked on charges of Oxycontin possession, fourth-degree drug possession and a minor in possession of marijuana violation, officers said.
Police said Friday night they are looking for Michael William Ward Jr. and Gabrielle Rose Ward, as there is probable cause for their arrest. If you have any information on their whereabouts or see either of them, police asked that you please contact Deschutes County non-emergency dispatch at 541-693-6911.
“The Bend Police Department is seeing an increase in the illegal possession of Xanax,” officers said in a news release, noting that “Xanax pills are often referred to as bars because of their bar-like shape. Xanax bars are often different colors but are commonly green. Xanax is in the Benzodiazepine drug class and are legally prescribed for the use in treating anxiety and panic disorder.
“The side effects can mimic extreme alcohol intoxication to include slurred speech, drowsiness, feeling “loopy”, lack of balance or coordination, “functioning blackouts” and memory loss, officers said. Also, when combined with alcohol. it can cause respiratory failure and even death.
Xanax is a very addictive drug, police said, and has become a very popular drug used among teens and young adults.
“The Bend Police Department would like to remind our citizens / visitors to our community of the importance in keeping your valuables out of plain view in your vehicle(s) and to also remember to secure your residence in order to help reduce crimes of opportunity,” the news release concluded.
