Local drug agents seized several thousand marijuana plants after raiding three properties in the Bend area Wednesday. According to a news release from the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team: On Wednesday, July 6th, 2022, detectives with the Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement team and the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team concluded an eighteen-month investigation involving a drug organization that is alleged to be growing and processing illicit marijuana in Bend, Oregon, before delivering around the pacific northwest. This case began with community complaints and tips about one of the organization's grow locations on Nelson Rd in the unincorporated area of Bend, Oregon. As a result, the Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement team began investigating and discovered a second grow site in the unincorporated area of Tumalo, east of Bend, Oregon. The Deschutes County Illicit Marijuana Enforcement Team requested the assistance of the Central Oregon Drug Team to f
St Charles Health System released the following statement regarding four St. Charles Medical Group providers planning their intention to unionize. St. Charles Medical Group is the employed provider arm of St. Charles Health System. It encompasses about 300 physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, licensed clinical psychologists and other health professionals. Many providers who practice in St. Charles' hospitals are not part of this group. "As always, we want to reassure our community that patient care is and will continue to be our top priority," said Dr. Jeff Absalon, chief physician executive for St. Charles Health System. "We greatly value our employed providers and respect their right to take this step, although we'd far prefer to work directly with them in partnership while navigating these unprecedented times. We know many health care workers are frustrated and exhausted after the past two years of the COVID-19 pan
A Bend couple were arrested for allegedly running drugs into Central Oregon from the Portland area. The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team, in collaboration with the Deschutes County Sheriff's Office Street Crimes Unit, concluded a long-term investigation with the arrest of Luke Anthony Martin, 38, and his wife, Ryeann Martin, 27. During a concurrent investigation, drug Agents identified the husband and wife as fentanyl traffickers in the central Oregon area. The initial investigation alleges Mr. and Mrs. Martin have been importing large quantities of fentanyl pills and powder from the Portland area into central Oregon where they distribute it. Based on the investigation, CODE Detectives applied for and obtained a Search Warrant for the Martin home and their vehicle. After a multi-day and multi-county ground and aerial surveillance operation, the Martins were contacted, and the Search Warrant was executed as they returned home to the 61000 block of Ferguson Court today around 10