CODE Team arrests two Bend men accused of fentanyl, meth trafficking after chase, crash and raids on car, house
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Two Bend men accused of bringing commercial quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine into Central Oregon were arrested late Thursday after an attempted traffic stop near Redmond led to a brief pursuit, crash, search of the car and raid on a suspect’s home.
The arrests of Andrew Scott Giordano, 48, and Eric Wayne Reinwald, 47, followed a long-term investigation by the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team, Lieutenant Mike Landolt said.
The CODE Team, working with Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies, attempted a traffic stop on a gray VW Taos in the area of Smith Rock Way and Northeast 33rd Street, Landolt said.
The driver did not yield to officers and attempted to elude them, he said, but apparently hit a bump in the road and went off the roadway in the area of NE 33rd Street and the O’Neil Highway, hitting some rocks and getting stuck. Giordano, the driver, and passenger Reinwald were uninjured and taken into custody.
Drug agents applied for and were granted search warrants for the SUV, items in it and Giordano’s home in the 20000 block of Kristin Court in Bend, Landolt said. Drug agents found commercial quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine in and around the VW, and at Giordano’s home found packaging material, cash and items related to illegal drug distribution.
The two men were booked into the county jail on drug delivery and possession charges, while Giordano also was charged with attempting to elude police. Both were due for initial court appearances Friday afternoon. Landolt said more charges could be coming in the ongoing investigation.
