The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

A traffic stop in downtown Sisters in the early hours of Thursday, August 19, led to the arrest of three people from Salem and the seizure of more than four pounds of methamphetamine and over $9,000 in cash.

Detective Sergeant Doug Sullivan of the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office reported that the DCSO Street Crimes Unit, with the assistance of the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team (CODE), conducted a short term investigation into Crystal Wells, 35, of Salem, for the sale of controlled substances in Deschutes County. On August 19, Street Crimes detectives learned Wells was returning to Deschutes County, possibly with controlled substances in her possession.

Crystal Wells of Salem was one of three arrested on drug charges after a traffic stop in downtown Sisters in the early hours of Thursday, August 19.

At approximately 12:12 a.m., detectives observed Wells traveling in a 2010 Honda Civic east bound on East Cascade Avenue in Sisters. A Deschutes County Deputy stopped Wells for a traffic violation near East Cascade and North Larch Street. Bend Police Department K9, Bonnie, and his partner Officer Jeff Perkins responded and alerted to the presence of controlled substances in the vehicle Wells was driving. A subsequent search of Wells and her passengers revealed they were in possession of more than four pounds of methamphetamine and over $9,000 in US currency.

Wells and her passengers, Kristen Haynes, 39, of Salem, and Rafael Diaz-Ramirez, 35, of Salem, were lodged at the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Jail on multiple drug charges. Diaz-Ramierez also had a warrant out of Marion County.

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office street crimes unit focuses enforcement on street level drug cases and quality of life issues connected to property crimes throughout Deschutes County.