December 8, 2025 4:10 p.m. 

A death investigation continues, and one arrest has been made.

A release from the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team said in the early morning hours on Thursday, December 4th, deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office investigated a suspicious death that occurred in the 5000 block of Grange Road in the Green District. Lieutenant Rick McArthur of DINT said 34-year-old Zachary Slaymaker was found deceased in his residence. McArthur said evidence at the scene led deputies to believe that the cause of death was likely a drug overdose, and fentanyl was the suspected culprit.

Detectives with DINT were called in to investigate and were able to largely determine Slaymaker’s whereabouts and activities during the previous 24 hours. Detectives developed evidence leading them to believe that Slaymaker purchased fentanyl from 39-year-old George Perez a short time before his death.

McArthur said as the investigation focused on Perez, detectives developed reason to believe he was in the Roseburg area and was still selling small quantities of fentanyl. At approximately 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 5th, detectives located Perez in the parking lot of a business in the 3300 block of Northwest Aviation Drive in Roseburg. Detectives contacted Perez and took him into custody without incident. McArthur said detectives located a small amount of suspected fentanyl on Perez and believe he was intending to sell it at the time of his arrest.

Perez was charged with 2 counts each of unlawful possession and delivery of a Schedule II controlled substance. He was detained without bail and was released on Sunday.

McArthur said more arrests and charges are possible in the case.