A traffic stop in southwest Redmond Monday led to a brief foot chase, seizure of cash and methamphetamine worth $23,000, and ultimately to the arrest of a Redmond man for multiple charges, said authorities.
Surveillance was established at Southwest 21ts Place and Umatilla Avenue in Redmond about 6:15 p.m. October 9 when detectives from the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) Team developed “reliable information” that a substantial amount of methamphetamine was being transported in the Redmond area, said Sgt. Scott Shelton.
CODE detectives with the assistance of the Redmond Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a 1998 Dodge pickup driven by Genaro Cardona Rincon, a 19-year old Redmond resident. Cardona gave permission to search his vehicle, but while speaking to a uniformed officer and a CODE detective, he bolted from the area breaking free from the grasp of the detective. Officers were led on a short foot chase where Cardona was taken into custody near the Fountain Restaurant.
Genaro Cardona Rincon, DCJ Photo
A search of the vehicle revealed approximately 9 ounces of methamphetamine which was allegedly hidden in several different areas of the pickup cab, along with $671 in cash. According to Sgt. Shelton, the estimated street value of the meth is in excess of $23,000. Both the pickup and the cash were seized, he added.
Cardona was transported to the Deschutes County Adult Correctional Facility and will face charges of possession and delivery of methamphetamine, escape, and resisting arrest. The case has been forwarded to the special cross-designated Deschutes County Deputy District Attorney assigned to the CODE team to determine if the suspect will be prosecuted in State or Federal court.
The CODE team is a multi-agency narcotics investigation team comprised of Detectives from the: Bend Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriffs Office, Redmond Police Department, Prineville Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, The Deschutes County District Attorneys Office, The United States Drug Enforcement Administration and the Oregon National Guard.