Community tips lead to traffic stop, raid, arrest of suspected Bend fentanyl trafficker, his brother and girlfriend

(Update: Adding video, interviews with Shepherd's House, CODE)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – Community tips led to the arrest of a Bend-area fentanyl trafficker during a Highway 97 traffic stop in Terrebonne, as well as his older brother and girlfriend, the seizure of a "commercial quantity" of fentanyl pills and powder, and a raid on the couple's Bend shelter room, drug agents said Tuesday.

Tips led Central Oregon Drug Enforcement detectives to identify David Vance, 24, as a Bend-area fentanyl trafficker, Sergeant Kent Vander Kamp said. Drug agents conducted surveillance on his activities for several weeks and allege he was selling large quantities of fentanyl in the area around the Shepherd’s House Lighthouse Navigation Center near NE Second Street and Franklin Avenue.

Around 1 p.m. Sunday on Highway 97 at Eby Road in Terrebonne, CODE Team detectives, assisted by Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies, pulled over green Subaru driven by Vance’s girlfriend, Katie Borden, 20, and occupied by David Vance and his 26-year-old brother, Vander Kamp said.

During the stop, CODE drug detection K-9 Bonnie was deployed and alerted her handler to drugs inside the car. Detectives requested and obtained a search warrant that “revealed a commercial and substantial quantity of powdered fentanyl and fake pharmaceutical pills made of fentanyl,” Vander Kam said.

On Monday morning, with evidence from the traffic stop, detectives sought and executed a search warrant form Vance and Borden’s room at the Franklin Avenue Shelter, the former Rainbow Motel, also operated by Shepherd’s House Ministries and primarily serving families with minors and people who are medically vulnerable. Additional evidence was collected there, with assistance from Bend Police.

The three were arrested on fentanyl possession charges, and David Vance also or attempted fentanyl delivery. His brother also is being held on an outstanding arrest warrant on an unrelated, earlier DUII charge.

David Vance and Katie Borden have made their initial court appearances, pending an expected grand jury indictment. NewsChannel 21 policy is not to name arrested suspects until formal charges are filed, and court records don’t show new charges involving the brother as of Tuesday. District Attorney Steve Gunnels said his office will present evidence on all three arrested people to the grand jury.

Evan Hendrix, director of navigation services for the Lighthouse Navigation Center and Shepherd's House Ministries, told Vander Kamp, “We are grateful for the partnership with local law enforcement and appreciative of your support in this situation."

"We recognize the danger of fentanyl and its growing presence in our community," Hendrix added. "It is only through collaborative efforts such as this that we can find a way to curb this epidemic and ensure the safety of our community moving forward. Thank you for all you do to counter the flow of illicit substances into our community.” 

Hendrix told NewsChannel 21: "I think one of the challenges about working with the community that we do, it's an incredibly vulnerable and marginalized population, and can be an easy target. And any time we suspect that there are folks trafficking in illicit substances and or other behaviors that are dangerous for our community, work quick to share that information with local law enforcement."

During the investigation, the CODE Team found The Lighthouse prevented the sale of drugs at the shelter several times.

Vander Kamp said a “commercial quantity” of fentanyl is defined by statute as five grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl. It's not a separate criminal charge but rather an increase in the sentencing guidelines.  

Vander Kamp said he's extremely concerned with the level of intricacy in the distribution network.

“The majority of our fentanyl product that we have here in the Pacific Northwest originates from basically two cartels,” he said. “The main cartel that provides the fentanyl to the Pacific Northwest are mostly from Honduras.

“The cycle usually begins in the Bay Area -- so the Oakland area, to be precise,” Vander Kamp said. “And then they have a what they call ‘the circuit.’ And Portland is one of the stops on that circuit. And then from that Portland ‘depot,’ if you will, they have distribution networks from there. And so our fentanyl generally comes from the Portland area.” 

Most investigations result from tips, Vander Kamp said, so if you see something – say something. And for those thinking of dealing drugs in Central Oregon, the sergeant said it’s just a matter of time before you’re caught.