A Lewis County Sheriff's Deputy carries a chainsaw that he removed from a house at 220 Kiona Road in Randle as the department served a search warrant at the house in Randle.
The County Commission on Monday honored two Lewis County Sheriff’s Office employees with the “Above and Beyond Award” for their participation in the June 7 “Big Bottom Meth Bust.”
Deputy Brian Lauer’s and Detective Jeff Humphrey’s investigation spurred the operation, and they were instrumental in coordinating the effort which resulted in 11 arrests, County Commissioner Edna Fund said at Monday’s meeting.
Earlier this year, Fund said, Lauer stopped an individual for a traffic violation.
Through an investigation and interview, Lauer convinced the individual to work with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office.
With help from the informant, Lauer and Humphrey were able to buy meth from known drug dealers in the east end. In total, they made 14 buys from multiple suspects, Fund told meeting attendees at the Lewis County Historic Courthouse.
On June 7, personnel from Lewis County Sheriffs office, Morton Police, the Department of Corrections and the Pacific County Task Force conducted a raid, serving warrants on five residences and eventually arresting 11 people.
At that time, Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Gene Seiber told The Chronicle the suspects were arrested at five homes in Randle and its outlying residential areas, including homes on the 100 block of Morris Road, the 100 and 200 blocks of Kiona Road, the 100 block of Falls Road and the 100 block of Ridge View Drive.
Among those arrested for delivery of meth were Keith Allen Sanders, 42; Marty Joe Mullins, 48; Chris Edward Green, 58; Jason A Green, 24; Jack Wayne Mullins, 57; Diane Lynn Allison, 52; Robert Delano LaChance Sr, 50; Byron Otis Daily, 42; Leah Danyale Williams, 24; and Robert M. Church, 48, according to the Sheriff’’s Office.
“This operation was a huge success, largely due to the foundation work done by Detective Humphrey and Deputy Lauer,” Fund said Monday. “By their actions, they both met the mission of the Sheriff’s Office by making our community a safer place to live by getting these individuals off the street.”
Following Fund’s remarks, Sheriff Steve Mansfield thanked the commission for financial and moral support; that support, he said, “allows the Sheriff’s Office to make the community a safer place to live, go to school and work.”
Humphrey noted to the Commission that the operation was a team effort.
