October 30, 2022 6:30 a.m.

Last Wednesday the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Teams arrested a man whose vehicle contained a plethora of illegal drugs, and who may be involved in recent fentanyl overdoses.

Lieutenant Rick McArthur of DINT said detectives had interest in 39-year of Caleb Plueard who was seen leaving a residence in the 1300 block of Airway Avenue in Sutherlin. A traffic stop was initiated by a Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy, at which time Plueard was contacted by DINT detectives. Drug detection K9 Trapper was applied to Plueard’s vehicle and he alerted, giving his handler the signal that he detected the odor of narcotics coming from inside the vehicle.

McArthur said a search of the vehicle revealed several controlled substances including:

*421 grams (almost a pound) of suspected methamphetamine

*2.4 grams of suspected cocaine

*6.6 grams of suspected heroin

*5.3 grams of fentanyl powder

*13 suspected counterfeit oxycodone pills containing fentanyl

*Several other dosage units of various pharmaceutical drugs without prescriptions

McArthur said Plueard was jailed on charges of unlawful possession and delivery of heroin, meth and Schedule II controlled substances, two counts of conspiracy to commit a Class A Felony, and for a parole violation. He was detained without bail.

McArthur said whether these seized drugs, or any particular suspect has been directly involved in recent fentanyl overdoses has not been determined. McArthur said fentanyl is an extremely powerful synthetic opioid that is 50-100 times stronger than morphine. Experimentation with fentanyl, or any other illicit drugs is always dangerous, but even more so now with the proliferation of fentanyl in Douglas County. McArthur said ingesting even a small amount can be fatal. Fentanyl can be mixed into any of the common street drugs, with or without the user’s knowledge.

McArthur said using illicit drugs should be avoided at all costs.