Drug investigation at Vancouver-area house nets 12 arrests

Clark-Vancouver Regional Drug Task Force members arrested a dozen people after serving a search warrant at a Sifton-area home Thursday morning.

The search warrant was executed around 6 a.m. at 7120 N.E. 131st Ave. near Heritage High School. The Southwest Washington Regional SWAT team assisted due to the high number of people believed to be living there. Northeast 131st Avenue was closed for more than an hour between Northeast 76th Street and Fourth Plain Road.

Within the first two hours of law enforcement being on scene, 19 people were located in the residence.

Twelve of those people were taken to jail on miscellaneous charges, including arrest warrants and probation violations. Charges related to Thursday’s search warrant are expected to come later, said Cmdr. Mike Cooke, who heads the drug task force.

Katelynn M. Misener, 24, was booked into jail on suspicion of possessing heroin, a charge that derives from a different case, Cooke said. Lindze L. Lawrence, 26, Kristie D. Olinger, 40, Angie M. Wilde, 41, Brandon K. Trimbo, 22, Heather S. Eck, 22, and Austin T. Collins-Thorp, 20, were all arrested on District Court arrest warrants. Benjamin G. Bray, 31, Clark B. Lyle, 34, and Kevin C. Caldwell, 43, were booked into jail on Superior Court arrest warrants. Jacob E. Nelson, 29, and Toni L. Brill, 23, were booked into jail on suspicion of violating probation.

Once all the evidence from the scene is processed, Cooke said, charges for this case will be recommended.

“I think this is an unofficial record for the most number of people located at a single search warrant location,” Cooke said. “Unfortunately, as we continue to experience high levels of heroin addiction, I think we’ll continue to see homes like this, which are basically drug dens.”

Detectives seized digital scales, packaging materials and records of drug transactions. They also found small amounts of heroin and methamphetamine. This evidence will be sent to the Clark County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for possible additional charges related to delivering controlled substances and maintaining a drug house, Cooke said.

The warrant is part of an ongoing investigation into drug trafficking that police think occurs at this residence. County property records indicate the house is owned by Leslie E. Dyson.