[1]One gallon freezer bag containing methamphetamine is among drugs confiscated yesterday outside Chehalis. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
Updated at 1:07 p.m.
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – Law enforcement officers seized more than $200,000 worth of drugs yesterday from a house south of Chehalis, arresting four individuals.
The raid about 12:30 p.m. at a house on the 2500 block of Jackson Highway yielded both brown powdered heroin and methamphetamine, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
A one-gallon freezer bag which was located was nearly filled with chards of meth some as long as a Sharpie felt pen.
“Those are the biggest crystals I’ve ever seen in my career,” sheriff’s Chief Criminal Deputy Gene Seiber said.
The more than two and half pounds of meth is estimated to have a street value of some $200,000. Nearly 150 grams of heroin discovered inside the home is valued at almost $12,000, according to the sherif’s office.
The Lewis County Regional Crime Task Force and the sheriff’s office SWAT team assisted the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force in serving the search warrant.
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Rob Snaza praised the partnership between agencies as being vital to getting drugs off the streets.
“”We recovered a large amount of meth and heroin (yesterday) which made a positive difference in our community,” Snaza said in a news release this morning.
Arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for possession with intent to deliver were:
• Randall D. Mauel, 42, of Chehalis
• Ryan G. Mauel, 37, of Chehalis
• Jonathan R. Stajduhar, 34, Chehalis
• Tesa M. Hanks, 34, of Centralia
Hanks and Stajduhar are to be released without charges pending further investigation.
[2]Brown powdered heroin located at Chehalis area residence. / Courtesy photo by Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.