April 6, 2023 3:35 a.m.
Two Eugene residents, described as “mid-level” drug dealers by Lieutenant Rick McArthur of the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team, were busted by DINT on Tuesday afternoon.
McArthur said the pair were detained at approximately 4:30 p.m. for meth and heroin crimes.
A DINT release said detectives, with help from Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies, conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the parking lot of a business in the 800 block of John Long Road. That is in the area of the truck stop in Rice Hill. McArthur said the stop was made as part of an ongoing investigation into the occupants of the vehicle and their suspected drug trafficking activities.
A search of the vehicle allegedly revealed approximately 141 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine in several separate bags. Also found was one small bag allegedly containing 2.7 grams of suspected heroin. McArthur said the total value of the drugs seized was around $2,000.
44-year old Michael Bethel and 34-year old Catherine Silva were both charged with unlawful possession and delivery of meth as well as unlawful delivery of heroin. Silva was also charged with unlawful possession of heroin. Bethel was held on $250,000 bail while Silva was held without bail.
DINT shared information on the arrests with detectives from the Eugene Police Street Crimes Unit, who had an active investigation into Bethel regarding similar activity. With the addition of this new information, EPD was able to obtain a search warrant for Bethel’s residence. A search warrant was served in the evening hours Tuesday. Two firearms were located, one of which had been reported stolen, as well as approximately 1 ounce of suspected methamphetamine and ¼ ounce of a suspected meth/fentanyl mixture and additional evidence of manufacturing and delivery of controlled substances.
Bethel will be charged with additional crimes in Lane County.
McArthur said criminal activity knows no boundaries. He said it is especially common for drug trafficking activity to cross jurisdictional boundaries as drugs are transported from one place to another for distribution. McArthur said part of DINT’s mission is to interrupt the trafficking and distribution of controlled substances into this area. He said often times that requires working in conjunction with counterparts from all over the state and sometimes even outside the state. McArthur said these arrests are just another example of DINT’s partnerships with other law enforcement agencies.