Three suspects jailed in alleged meth ring

Published 4:00 pm Tuesday, December 24, 2002

JOHN DAY – Three local residents were arrested on numerous felony charges as the result of an investigation into a drug distribution network which was reportedly bringing methamphetamine into John Day, police chief Kent Wyatt reported.

On Wednesday, Dec. 18, at about 1:30 p.m., John Day Officers with the assistance of Grant County Deputies, Oregon State Police, officials from the Oregon Child Protective Services and Blue Mountain Volunteer Ambulance personnel executed a search warrant at space No. 90 in the Riverside Trailer Park, 677 West Main Street, and arrested Stephen Green, 22, Julia Moore, 21 and Debbie Moore, 48.

Green was reportedly charged with seven separate counts including conspiracy to commit first-degree theft, first-degree theft, conspiracy to commit second-degree burglary, second- degree burglary, possession of a controlled substance, two counts of first-degree child neglect and manufacture of a controlled substance.

Julia Moore was reportedly arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of first-degree child neglect, manufacture of a controlled substance and supplying contraband.

Debbie Moore was reportedly charged with possession of a controlled substance, two counts of first-degree child neglect and manufacture of a controlled substance.

Wyatt reported that in addition to the three people who were arrested, five other individuals at the residence were identified, detained and searched as a result of this investigation.

“Without revealing specific tactics, the investigation involved undercover and electronic surveillance, interception of phone calls, several confidential informants placed in several different cities and numerous man hours by over 20 different officers and civilians,” Wyatt said. “In particular, John Day Sergeant Rich Tirico and Officers Tom Hutchison and Kevin Miller sometimes worked days without sleep and traveled to other cities to conduct portions of the investigation.”

Wyatt reported that probable cause was gained for the three arrests from the search and from previous information gathered during an earlier investigation linking Green to a burglary and theft which occurred at the Grubsteak Restaurant in October.

Also in October, John Day Police reportedly received information about a possible drug distribution network which was bringing methamphetamine into the area from Prineville, Madras and Caldwell, Idaho.

During the continuing investigation, police reportedly gained information of possible drug activity at the Riverside Trailer Park address where Green lived.

This information eventually led to the search warrant being served, police report.

Chief Wyatt said John Day Police were assisted during the investigation by the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, the Oregon State Police, the Crook County Sheriff’s Office, the Central Oregon Drug Task Force, the Eastern Oregon Drug Task Force, the Oregon Department of Human Services, the La Grande Police Department, and the Blue Mountain Volunteer Ambulance.