Drug-sniffing dog’s leads to arrest of Prineville fentanyl, meth trafficking suspect during Sisters traffic stop

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) – A Prineville man under investigation for allegedly trafficking large quantities of fentanyl pills and methamphetamine into the region was arrested Saturday morning after a drug-detection K-9 alerted to their presence in his car during a traffic stop on Highway 20 near Sisters.

The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team wrapped up a long-term investigation and surveillance operation with apprehension of the 35-year-old man, Sergeant Kent Vander Kamp said.

CODE Team investigators said the initial investigation suggests the man has been importing significant quantities of fentanyl pills and methamphetamine from the Yamhill County area into Central Oregon, where he distributes them in the Redmond and Prineville areas.

After an overnight surveillance operation, CODE Team detectives, working with Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies, intercepted and pulled the man over for tailgating on Highway 20 west at milepost 95, just outside the Sisters city limits.

Vander Kamp noted that the area was experiencing winter weather, making the road hazardous. Firefighters from the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District helped manage traffic at the scene.

CODE narcotics detection K-9 Bonnie was deployed and signaled her handler to the presence of a controlled substance in the Honda Accord, the sergeant said. He noted that Bonnie is one of only two K-9s in Central Oregon trained and certified to detect fentanyl and other drugs.

CODE detectives applied for and obtained a search warrant for the car, and that search turned up “a substantial quantity” of meth and counterfeit oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl.

The suspect was booked into the Deschutes County Jail in Bend on charges of unlawful possession and attempted distribution of the two controlled substances. (It is NewsChannel 21's company policy not to name those arrested until formal charges are filed.)