Bend Weekly News for Bend Oregon

Jan 12,2007
Police seize 187 pot plants in sophisticated growing operation
by Cheryl McDermott

When detectives raided two homes about 12 miles east of Bend Tuesday evening, they found that one home had been converted throughout into a sophisticated marijuana growing operation with both hydroponic and soil growing systems, and seized almost 200 pot plants growing in various stages of maturity. Three pounds of dried marijuana were also found, authorities said, and one man was arrested.

Daniel Kevin Black was charged with possession, delivery, and manufacture of a controlled substance. DCJ photo.

Over the past month, detectives from the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team received credible information that Daniel Kevin Black, 50, of 22750 Nelson Road, and other individuals were involved in the manufacturing and sale of marijuana, said Detective Sergeant Scott Shelton with the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.

Shelton, working with the CODE team, said that two homes and the suspect’s activities in and around the Bend area were monitored. Information gleaned from the surveillance in addition to witness statements were enough to obtain a search warrant for both residences.

The first search warrant was executed at 62850 Deschutes Road about 5:15 p.m. January 9, and was immediately followed with a raid at Black’s home on Nelson Road.

A sophisticated growing operating with both hydroponic and soil growing systems were found at 62850 Deschutes Road. CODE photo.

CODE detectives, assisted by Deschutes County Sheriff’s deputies, found that the entire home on Deschutes Road had been converted into a sophisticated marijuana growing operation with both hydroponic and soil growing systems, Sgt. Shelton said. The living room and two bedrooms in the 1,200 square foot home served as separate growing rooms with plants in varying stages of maturity. The electrical system had been diverted and altered to enhance the growing operation, said the sergeant, and Central Oregon Electric Company was called in to make the system safe.

Detectives seized 187 pot plants and about one pound of dried marijuana at the Deschutes Road residence. With an estimated yield of eight ounces of usable marijuana from each established plant, these plants would yield about 85 pounds of marijuana. Based on the current street value of $3,500 per pound, at full maturity the plants seized would be worth about $297,000.

Based on estimated yield and current street value, the 187 plants seized would be worth about $297,000 at full maturity. CODE photo.

When CODE detectives and sheriff’s deputies searched Black’s home on Nelson Road, they found about two pounds of dried marijuana in addition to numerous items associated with the growing operation on Deschutes Road, Sgt. Shelton said.

Black was taken into custody and lodged at the Deschutes County Jail with bail set at $50,000. He is charged with possession, delivery and manufacture of a controlled substance.

According to Detective Sergeant Shelton, the investigation into the growing operation is continuing.

The CODE Team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force comprised of detectives from all Central Oregon law enforcement agencies including: Bend Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Redmond Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Prineville Police Department, Oregon State Police, Jefferson County Sheriffs Department, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Deschutes County District Attorney and the Oregon National Guard.