News brief: Heroin dealing investigation leads to Chehalis apartment

By Sharyn  L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter

CHEHALIS – Police seized an estimated quarter-pound of black tar heroin when they searched an apartment last night in Chehalis.

Three people were arrested in what the Centralia Police Department calls the culmination of a month-long narcotics trafficking investigation involving individuals from as far away as Puyallup.

A search warrant was served about 8 p.m. at the 300 block of Southwest Third Street, according to police.

Arrested were Darin L. Miles, 38, of Chehalis; Scott T. Johnson, 44, of Centralia; and Jose G. Estrada-Alva of Puyallup.

Officers collected items such as power tools and sports memorabilia believed to be stolen in various thefts and burglaries in the greater Twin Cities area, according to a new release this morning from  the Centralia Police Department.

Police called the quantity of heroin significant; they also found a small amount of suspected methamphetamine and some pills, according to the news release. The exact weights have not yet been determined, police said.

The street value of a quarter pound of heroin in Washington state, according to tracking by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration  is about $12,800, Officer Chris Fitzgerald said. It sells for about $100 per gram here, she said.

Miles’ girlfriend and two small children were at the home when officers arrived and allowed to leave with a relative, according to police.

The three men were booked into the Lewis County Jail, initially for offenses including possession and delivery of a controlled substance,  as well as unlawful possession of a firearm, according to the news release.

The Centralia Police Anti-Crime Unit was assisted by Chehalis police and members of the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.

Update Thursday June 16, 2011 at 12 p.m.: The amount of heroin turned out to be just a few grams shy of a pound, according to Officer Fitzgerald. Street value: approximately $43,600.

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5 Responses to “News brief: Heroin dealing investigation leads to Chehalis apartment”

  1. George says:

    Barbara, while the 75% number may be a bit skewed (ok, it’s a LOT skewed), I think the point to look at is that it only takes ONE cop being bad to make them ALL look bad. Kinda like having one bad employee making the whole company look bad, you know? Heck, look at all the problems they have in Seattle, with the cops up there getting caught doing bad things and then getting off with not even a slap on the wrist! That is where the distrust comes from… and of course there are those who just can’t stand authority….

  2. Barbara says:

    Wow, I know 99 percent of the deputies in Lewis County on a personal and professional level. I am very upset by your comment about them. I personally think that the sheriff needs to be replaced due to his activities, but that in no way should reflect on the deputies under him. ( I know you didn’t mention him, but he wears a uniform too.) I have worked with these guys (not in uniform myself) and I would trust any of them with my life and my constitutional rights. I would love for someone to site where any current Lewis County Sheriff’s Deputy (besides the sheriff) that is breaking the law or a suspect in any case. Who are these 75% you are referring to?

  3. d.l.m says:

    Actually there was NO stolen property in Miles residence(if thats what u call it even though he didnt reside there)and people need to see both sides before they comment,those who are sworn to protect and serve do no such thing and ruin lives daily,deal with them a time or two even if you are the victim of a crime they will not see things that way.3/4 of the police in this county are intimadators,liars,and break laws just like the people they are arresting.This makes them no better,and much worse.It is not ok to break the law so you can bust somone you think is breaking it to.

  4. SEH says:

    Funny how they mentioned little to nothing about all the stolen property they found in Miles’ apartment, a place where convicted felons are supposedly not allowed to reside. Why they let the girlfriend leave when she was just as involved in this as the rest of them also comes to question. Hopefully justice will prevail, they will all go to prison, and the kids who lived in the middle of all this will go to decent homes.

  5. Roger81 says:

    Actually, the price figure that was given for that amount of heroin is greatly exaggerated to the amount of almost 10 times it’s actual street value. That amount is actually worth $4650.00 NOT $43,600. It was a big bust so why they need to exaggerate so much is odd. Goes with the field I guess, but only hurts their credibility.