Bend man jailed on drug delivery charges after Highway 97 traffic stop finds fentanyl under passenger’s seat

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – A Bend man was arrested on drug charges after a traffic stop on Highway 97 near Terrebonne late Tuesday night, accused of transporting fentanyl from the Portland area to distribute in Central Oregon. A search of the car turned up fentanyl powder and related items under the passenger seat.

The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team, in collaboration with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, concluded an investigation with the arrest of Harvey Gonzales Jr., 35, on charges of drug delivery, manufacture and possession. CODE Team Lt. Mike Landolt said Thursday.

Deputies conducted a traffic stop around 11 p.m. Tuesday on a black 2006 Honda Civic on Highway 97 near milepost 113, Landolt said. There were two people in the car, with Gonzales the passenger.

CODE Team detectives applied for and received a search warrant for the car, finding an unspecified quantity of fentanyl powder under the front passenger’s seat, along with drug paraphernalia and items associated with drug distribution, the lieutenant said.

When asked, Landolt did not provide the name of the driver, whom he said is not under investigation.

Deschutes County Court records show Gonzales was arraigned Wednesday on the initial drug charges, Class B and C felonies, and remained jailed Thursday. He is due back in court next Wednesday for arraignment on an expected grand jury indictment.

They also show he pleaded guilty to DUII earlier this year after being arrested twice on DUII charges and was charged last month with first-degree forgery, first-degree theft and identity theft. His conditional release was revoked after this week’s arrest.