Two arrested in drug raid on NE Redmond home

Two Redmond men were arrested Saturday in a raid on a northeast Redmond home that turned up more than $13,000 worth of various drugs and a small butane honey oil (BHO) lab, police said Monday.

Around 7 a.m., members of the Redmond Police Department’s part-time Street Crimes Unit, other officers and the Central Oregon Emergency Response Team (CERT) with its armored unit served the search warrant in the 1900 block of Northeast Eighth Street, Lt. Curtis Chambers said.

The search warrant was requested after an investigation into drug sales, Chambers said. The CERT team was used based on police information about the suspects’ prior criminal history (apparently mostly out of state) and reports that one recently obtained a gun “to aid their criminal enterprise.”

Officers seized drugs with an estimated street value of more than $13,000, also finding additional drug sales-related items and a small BHO lab in the home.

“BHO labs are inherently dangerous and can lead to large explosions in certain situations,” Chambers said in a news release.

Dustin Gates, 29, and Randy Thomas, 30, were arrested on charges of Oxycodone, cocaine heroin and marijuana possession, delivery and manufacture, as well as possession of illegal fireworks. Gates also is charged with unlawful possession of anabolic steroids.

The Redmond police part-time Street Crimes Unit is an extra-duty assignment officers and detectives work, in addition to their regular duties. This summer, chambers said, the department adjusted two officers’ work schedules, allowing to work full time on “quality of life” crimes, he said.

“The Part-time Street Crimes Unit intends to investigate reports of drug sales which has a direct impact on the quality of life in Redmond. Drug possession, use, and sales are significantly associated with thefts, burglaries, robberies, stolen vehicles, and other crimes,” Chambers wrote.

“The Redmond Police Department hopes to reduce quality-of-life crimes by targeting those individuals who supply controlled substances to our community members, thereby encouraging other crimes to be committed. The Part-time Street Crimes Unit works closely with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Team and the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) Team.

“A full-time Street Crimes Unit is a goal your police department has to help us reach our vision, to make Redmond the safest community in Oregon,” the lieutenant said “Please call the Redmond Police Department to report known or suspected drug sales occurring in our city. Information can be anonymous.”