Court Releases Two of Four People Arrested for Alleged Connection to Winlock Drug Sales Due to Insufficient Probable Cause for Arrests

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The Lewis County Joint Narcotics Enforcement Team (JNET) arrested four people on March 18 as part of an investigation into illegal narcotic sales in Winlock, but a Lewis County Superior Court commissioner ordered that two of the defendants be released on March 19 due to a lack of information in the affidavit of probable cause.

The two released defendants were arrested for alleged connections to a purple Ford Ranger pickup truck that JNET detectives reportedly saw at the scene of a controlled buy with a confidential informant.

The informant had allegedly met with another defendant, Brian W. Buckman, of Winlock, on March 15 to purchase heroin. Buckman allegedly told the informant that he “did not have the heroin on him, but had to call his supplier,” at which time detectives allegedly saw the Ford Ranger arrive and deliver drugs to Buckman.

Court Commissioner Tracy Mitchell found that the affidavits for the two defendants allegedly connected to the pickup lacked “significant info on identity” and ordered both of them to be released on personal recognizance.

The charges were not formally dismissed, however — and both were informed that they could still be rearrested or re-summoned to court once a new probable cause affidavit is submitted. 

An updated affidavit replaced both defendants’ names with the names of two previously unrelated people, but neither has yet to be arrested or charged in connection with the investigation, and the charges against the original two defendants have yet to be dropped.

The remaining two defendants, Buckman and Brandon R. Bennett, both of Winlock, were both accused of directly selling heroin to confidential informants in Lewis County and remained in custody. 

Bennett has been charged with one count of delivery of a controlled substance and had bail set at $10,000 cash or bond.



Buckman has been charged with one count each of delivery of a controlled substance and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm — a charge which defense attorney Rachael Tiller said is not supported by the affidavit.

“I didn’t read anywhere that there was any link to a firearm,” Tiller said.

The affidavit claims that someone close to Buckman told the confidential informant that Buckman had two AR-15 rifles and a tactical shotgun, and the informant relayed that information back to JNET.

Mitchell set Buckman’s bail at $25,000 cash or bond, the same amount listed on the arrest warrant signed by Judge Joely A. O’Rourke.

“I’m not in a position to overrule her,” Mitchell said.

All four defendants are scheduled for arraignment hearings on March 25.