Police Arrest Five During Coast, Mid-Valley Drug Busts

Three children have been taken into protective custody by Department of Human Services.

Salem-News.com

(WOODBURN, Ore. ) - A drug-related investigation originating with a traffic stop last week in Lincoln County led officers to Marion County and has resulted in the seizure of methamphetamine, cash, firearms and other evidence.

To this date, five people have been arrested and the investigation is being continued by members of the Lincoln County Interagency Narcotics Team (LINT).

On May 14, LINT and officers from Toledo Police Department, Lincoln County Parole and Probation, Oregon State Police and Lincoln County Sheriffs Office stopped a vehicle and served a search warrant in the Toledo area. A quantity of methamphetamine, cash and other evidence were seized, and the two occupants identified as 25-year-old Brandy Wirth, from Toledo, and 31-year-old Justin Luckini, age 31,from Newport, were arrested. Wirth was arrested for Probation Violation and Luckini was arrested on drug charges. Both were lodged in Lincoln County Jail.

Information developed in the on-going investigation led LINT members, Lincoln County Sheriffs Office, and Oregon State Police on May 15, to Ellmaker State Park on Highway 20 east of Eddyville where a vehicle was contacted and searched resulting in the seizure of approximately 5 ounces of methamphetamine and suspected forged identification.

Three suspects from the Gervais-area were taken into custody and lodged in Lincoln County Jail on drug-related charges. They are identified as 33-year-old Omar Diaz Espino, 43-year-old Yolanda Ybarra Perez; and, 25-year-old Anai Diaz-Lozano. Three small children were taken into protective custody by Department of Human Services.

The ongoing investigation led LINT members and officers from Lincoln County Sheriffs Office, Woodburn Police Department, and Marion County Sheriffs Office to serve a search warrant on May 15th at a 1500 George Street in Woodburn residence where they contacted an adult female and a 12-year old boy. That search led to the seizure of a quantity of methamphetamine, approximately $10,000 cash, and other evidence. As of this date, no one was arrested at that location.

Two additional search warrants were obtained and on May 16th LINT and officers from Woodburn Police Department and Marion County Sheriffs Office went to the residence of Espino and Perez at 735 5th St. in Gervais. Officers seized approximately $5,000 cash, numerous firearms including rifles, shotguns, handguns, ammunition, and suspected forged identification.

A second search warrant was served the same day by LINT and Marion County Sheriffs Office at a Woodburn area storage facility where officers seized firearms, ammunition, cockfighting equipment and other evidence.

LINT is continuing the investigation and more arrests are anticipated.

Source: Oregon State Police