2 arrested in DCSO raid on Redmond illegal marijuana grow; firefighters douse combusting compost piles

400 plants, 2 guns, cash seized; electrical, health hazards found, including black mold, leaking septic

REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A raid last week on an illegal marijuana grow in Redmond led to two arrests, the discovery of electrical and health hazards and a call-out of firefighters when large compost piles began to combust in windy conditions, threatening to spark a wildfire, Deschutes County sheriff’s deputies said Tuesday.

After a long-term investigation, detectives with the DCSO Illegal Marijuana Market Team executed a search warrant around at 7 a.m. last Wednesday at a property in the 8000 block of Yucca Avenue, sheriff’s Sergeant Jason Wall said.

The team seized more than 400 illegal marijuana plants being grown in a 4,700-square-foot shop on the 40-acre parcel, Wall said. Two guns and a large sum of cash also were seized.

“This investigation has led detectives to believe the marijuana was grown for the purposes of being distributed onto the black market out of state,” the sergeant said in a news release.

During the raid, unpermitted electrical hazards, “including dangerous building modifications,” were found on the site, Wall said, as well as black mold and a leaking septic system.

"While investigators were on scene, wind speeds were topping nearly 30 mph, large compost piles from the marijuana disposal on the property began to combust, resulting in a fire danger to the surrounding properties," Wall wrote. "Redmond Fire responded to the location to extinguish the compost piles to avoid a possible wildland fire."

Two Redmond men, ages 68 and 37, were arrested during the raid on charges of unlawful manufacture of a marijuana item, a Class B misdemeanor. Wall said they were taken to the county jail in Bend; a jail spokeswoman said they were both released to a responsible third party within about an hour of arrival, pending a June 20 court date.

Court records Tuesday showed formal charges have not been filed. District Attorney Steve Gunnels told NewsChannel 21 they have the case reports but likely won’t file charges until closer to the two men’s court appearance.

NewsChannel 21 policy is not to name arrested individuals, until and unless there are formal charges.

Wall added, "The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Illegal Marijuana Market Team would like to thank the following agencies whom assisted in dismantling this large illegal drug operation: Deschutes County Sheriff's Office SWAT, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Division, Central Oregon Drug Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Administration, Oregon State Police, City of Bend Police Department, Redmond Police Department, Redmond Fire and Rescue, Oregon Army National Guard, Central Oregon Emergency Response Team, Lane County Sheriff's Office SWAT, Deschutes County Code Enforcement and Central Oregon Water Resources."