Deschutes County Sheriff's County issued the following announcement on Apr. 13.
On Wednesday, April 13th, 2022, Detectives with the Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement team concluded a long-term investigation involving a large-scale illicit indoor marijuana grow on the 50000 block of Highway 31 in the unincorporated area of La Pine.
The Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement (DCIME) program is a partnership between the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, the Bend Police Department, and the Deschutes County District Attorney’s Office to address illegal marijuana activity in Deschutes County.
On April 13th, 2022, at approximately 7:00 AM, DCIME detectives, with the assistance of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team, executed a Search Warrant on the 10-acre property and located two commercial indoor growing facilities containing 2828 marijuana plants in various stages of growth. In addition to the plants, 14 firearms, over $350,000 US and evidence of money laundering schemes were found within the marijuana grow operation.
Seven people were detained by the SWAT team and later arrested by Detectives at the scene. Two of the seven persons was arrested at the scene and released with a citation to appear in court. Instead of a “physical arrest”, the citation-in-lieu releases the person on the promise to appear in court at a specified date and time. Due to privacy laws, we are unable to specify the reason a citation-in-lieu was used in this particular case. However, citations-in-lieu of custody are often used when people are charged with certain misdemeanor or felony offenses, are too unhealthy or ill for jail, they require emergent medical or mental health care at a hospital or several other unusual circumstances. However, a citation-in-lieu of custody is still an “arrest” and does not discount the seriousness of the alleged crimes.
The possession of small amounts of marijuana is legal for recreational use in Oregon. However, large, unlicensed marijuana operations remain illegal. Due to these operations being unregulated, they pose dangers to the public and environment.
Several areas in Deschutes County have been struggling with consistent groundwater sources. Since the beginning of DCIME, investigators have found illegal marijuana grows diverted or stolen significant water from nearby homes, commercial farms, or directly from pumps connected to underground sources in the arid central Oregon high desert. This particular grow site used underground well water and maintained a complex watering system that supplied several on-site. Additionally, Illegal marijuana farms often use pesticides and insecticides that threaten residential water supplies and endanger the end user.
The following people, in no particular order, were arrested at the conclusion of the investigation for the Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana and Unlawful Manufacturing of Marijuana. They were lodged in the Deschutes County Sheriff's Jail, except as noted otherwise.
Yi Wien ZHU, age 43, of Renton, Washington
Shi Min LEE, age 49, of La Pine, Oregon
Ping Ping LI, age 36, of Kent, Washington
Rong Ren LI, age 59, of La Pine, Oregon
Xiao Zhen ZHU. age 58, of La Pine, Oregon
Hong Chun LIU, age 43, of La Pine, Oregon (Cited In Lieu of Custody)
Har Soon LEE YEP, age 72, of La Pine, Oregon (Cited in Lieu of Custody)
DCIME Detectives were assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Detective Division, Central Oregon Drug Enforcement team, Oregon State Police, and the US Drug Enforcement Administration with the investigation, eradication, and dismantling of this site.
CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp, 541-550-4869 or kentv@deschutes.org
The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is a full-service agency that oversees the adult jail, provides patrol, criminal investigations, civil process and search and rescue operations. Special units include SWAT, Marine Patrol, ATV Patrol, Forest Patrol, along with six K9 teams. Founded in 1916 and today led by your duly elected Sheriff L. Shane Nelson, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office serves over 200,000 residents in Deschutes County. The agency has 259 authorized and funded personnel, which includes 193 sworn employees who provide services to the 3,055 square miles of Deschutes County.
Original source can be found here.
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