On December 8th, 2020, Chelan County Deputies responded to a male passed out in a vehicle in Manson, WA. Deputies that arrived on scene recognized the male as Caleb Ritz, a 39 year old male from Brewster, WA. Ritz was arrested on drug related charges and search incident arrest, Ritz had a loaded revolver on his person. Ritz is a convicted felon. Ritz’s vehicle was seized for a search warrant. Deputies worked with the Columbia River Drug Task Force Detectives and a search warrant was served on the vehicle resulting in suspected Fentanyl pills, suspected heroin and suspected methamphetamine seizure. Ritz was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the 1st degree, Possession with Intent Fentanyl, Possession with intent Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent Heroin.
On December 9th, 2022, Detectives from the Colombia River Drug Task Force served a search warrant in the 700 block of North Grover Place in East Wenatchee, WA. The search warrant resulted in over 8,000 suspected Fentanyl pills being seized. A second search warrant was obtained for the resident of the property’s vehicle which resulted in roughly 400 more suspected Fentanyl pills along with 2 ounces of suspected methamphetamine an ounce of suspected heroin and a large amount of cash. Shawn Drummond a 36 year old resident of East Wenatchee was arrested for Possession with intent to distribute Fentanyl, Heroin and Methamphetamine.
On December 16th, 2022, Detectives with the Columbia River Drug Task Force conducted an investigation at the Red Lion Hotel in Wenatchee, WA where it was determined Fentanyl pills were being dealt out of one of the hotel rooms. Numerous known drug users were seen coming and going from the suspect’s room. A search warrant was served at the suspected hotel room which resulted in the arrest of Kasey Cooper, a 34 year old resident of East Wenatchee, WA. When Cooper was contacted in the hotel room by law enforcement he destroyed evidence by flushing suspected drugs down the toilet. Additional drugs to include suspected Fentanyl pills and suspected Methamphetamine were recovered in the hotel room. Cooper was arrested for Possession with intent for Methamphetamine and Fentanyl. He was also charged with Maintaining a Drug Property and Obstruction.
Over the course of the investigation it was determined that Shawn Drummond, Kasey Cooper, Matthew Hendricks, Caleb Ritz, and Casey McKinstry are all part of the same drug trafficking organization. CRDTF detectives are working with our Federal counter parts with Homeland Security Investigations and the AUSA of the Eastern District of Spokane to indict these suspects under federal charges where they could face longer prison time. Ritz, Drummond, and Cooper joined their counter parts currently housed at the Chelan County Regional Justice Center.
The Columbia River Drug Task Force is committed to targeting Fentanyl drug dealers in the Wenatchee Valley. There have been too many lives lost and countless lives affected by this poison being distributed in our community. CRDTF is committed to working with our Federal partners as well as the Chelan and Douglas Prosecutor’s office to hold these drug dealers accountable to the highest extent of the law.
Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett reports that on 12/16/22 at approximately 1858 hours, RIVERCOM dispatch was contacted by an unknown male who stated he was angry over an incident that happened previously to the call.
The suspect threatened a local business establishment in the downtown Leavenworth area. He stated he had rifle with a large amount of ammunition and a pipe bomb. As a precaution, safety protocols were immediately administered by deputies to local businesses open at the time, causing them to shelter in place. This included Cascade Medical Center.
Several Chelan County deputies quickly responded to the area with additional support from the Washington State Patrol. Deputies conducted a thorough sweep of the downtown area and did not find anything to corroborate any threat. A thorough investigation commenced while additional law enforcement resources remained in the area to provide a security presence. Deputies continued to look for any individual(s) that presented an obvious threat to public safety. This investigation is ongoing. The Sheriff’s Office does not believe there is any concern for the safety of the public.
All available information appeared to point to another “swatting” incident and appeared not to be credible at the time. The investigation by law enforcement spanned approximately 3 hours. Law enforcement’s security presence remained in the area for several additional hours. “Swatting” incidents have been increasing throughout the country and are a serious drain on law enforcement resources.
On behalf of the Columbia River Drug Task Force we want to make the public aware of different colored Fentanyl or what is considered “Rainbow” Fentanyl that has been confiscated by law enforcement in the Wenatchee Valley within the last month.
CRDTF detectives have seen pictures of this multi-colored Fentanyl on suspect’s phones who reside in the Wenatchee Valley. We want the public to be aware of this latest trend as the Fentanyl looks very similar to candy or children’s vitamins.
Also, there have been drug seizures in Washington State, specifically in Eastern Washington, of colored Fentanyl powder that looks similar to colored chalk. We believe it will only be a matter of time before this type of Fentanyl will also make its way into our community. We urge the public to talk with your children about the dangers of drugs, to include not ingesting any type of pill that is not prescribed by a Doctor, and not trying or experimenting with any pills or powder that are given to them by an acquaintance, friend, or family member.
Fentanyl is an extremely dangerous substance.
For more information on the dangers of Fentanyl and to learn more please visit the following website.
On 11-01-22, Matthew D. Hendricks, a 29 year old resident of East Wenatchee, was observed by CRDTF Detectives in Rock Island, WA. Hendricks had a DOC Escape warrant out for his arrest at the time. CRDTF Detectives had gathered intelligence from numerous sources that Hendricks was dealing Fentanyl pills. Hendricks drove his motorcycle from Rock Island to a body shop in the 400 block of Rock Island Road. He was contacted by Detectives once he arrived at the location. When contacted, Hendricks fled into the nearby body shop and hid behind a vehicle inside the shop. Hendricks was arrested and found in possession of nearly 1000 Fentanyl pills and close to an ounce of methamphetamine. Hendricks had over $2500 cash on his person. Hendricks was arrested and a search warrant on his phone was served which revealed evidence of drug dealing. Hendricks’ cash and motorcycle were seized. Hendricks was arrested for possession with intent to deliver Methamphetamine and Fentanyl as well as Resisting Arrest.
On 11-09-22, CRDTF Detectives had been surveilling Casey C. McKinstry, a 32 year old resident of Rock Island, due to information gathered that McKinstry was dealing Fentanyl. Detectives interrupted a drug deal after seeing a hand to hand transaction at the Evergreen Smoke Shop parking lot. McKinstry was arrested for possession with intent to deliver Fentanyl, Heroin and Methamphetamine. The buyer, Christopher R. Dexter, a 30 year old resident of East Wenatchee, was also arrested for leaving two young children unattended in his running vehicle while he was purchasing drugs from McKinstry. Child Protective Services was called and notified of the situation and the children were placed in temporary protective custody. Both subjects admitted a drug deal was occurring when the CRDTF Detectives contacted them. McKinstry had approximately $4800 cash, approximately 400 fentanyl pills, about a gram of heroin, and about gram of methamphetamine in his possession. The cash and McKinstry’s vehicle were seized. McKinstry was out on bail at the time of his arrest and has a pending case out of Douglas County for firearms possession and possession w/intent. McKinstry was booked into the Chelan County Regional Justice Center. It should be noted that under the current state law for drug possession that CRDTF Detectives only course of action is to issue Dexter a drug referral for his part in the drug transaction.
Both subjects are currently housed at the Chelan County Regional Justice Center.
The Columbia River Drug Task Force is committed to targeting Fentanyl drug dealers in the Wenatchee Valley. There have been too many lives lost and countless lives affected by this poison being distributed in our community. CRDTF is committed to working with our Federal partners as well as the Chelan and Douglas Prosecutor’s office to hold these drug dealers accountable to the highest extent of the law.
Sheriff Burnett reports that at approximately 6:30 AM on Saturday, October 22nd, a Leavenworth resident was outside of her home in the 300 block of Commercial Street walking her dog when a bear attacked her.
The female reported the bear attacked her from behind. The female fought back and punched the bear several times during the 10 to 15 second attack. The female received significant injuries and has received medical treatment.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife responded to the scene.
A public alert was sent out to local media and information was posted to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office social media asking all residents and visitors to avoid the area until further notice.
Working with the City of Leavenworth, the Enchantment Park area was closed. As a precautionary measure, the City of Leavenworth continued to keep the Enchanted Park area closed until Sunday, October 23rd.
Officers with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife brought in two tracking dogs in an attempt to locate the bear that was responsible for the attack.
On October 19th, 2022 Columbia River Drug Task Force Detectives located Danielle Reyes, a 28-year-old resident of East Wenatchee, while she was driving a motor vehicle in Wenatchee. Reyes had numerous misdemeanor warrants for her arrest, and had been involved in eluding incidents with patrol officers in both Wenatchee and East Wenatchee in the recent past.
CRDTF Detectives coordinated with Wenatchee Police Officers to stop Reyes, but she fled from the uniformed police officers in marked patrol vehicles two different times in the course of a few minutes. Reyes was located again in East Wenatchee, and an East Wenatchee Officer initiated a traffic stop from which, Reyes fled again. The East Wenatchee Officer attempted a Pursuit Intervention Technique (P.I.T.) maneuver to prevent Reyes from fleeing the traffic stop. Reyes slammed on the brakes, and put the vehicle in reverse slamming into the front of a CRDTF vehicle, causing the air bags to deploy and causing extensive damage to both vehicles. Reyes resisted arrest and attempted to drive away, while she was being taken into custody.
The CRDTF Detective was driven to Central Washington Hospital as a precautionary measure. The CRDTF Detective has been discharged from CWH with minor injuries.
Initial charges for Reyes include Assault 2nd degree, 2 counts of Felony Eluding, Resisting Arrest, and Driving Under the Influence. The Wenatchee Police Department is handling the investigation on the criminal charges stemming from the events today.
The Washington State Patrol is investigating the collision.
On October 18 th , 2022 Columbia River Drug Task Force Detectives observed Victor Dominguez, a 33-year-old resident from East Wenatchee, in the 400 block of South Kentucky in East Wenatchee.
Dominguez had a warrant for a Felony DV Court Order Violation. Dominguez also had a felony warrant for Assault in the 3 rd degree stemming from an incident on October 5 th 2022 where Dominguez assaulted a Washington State Patrol Trooper, while on a traffic stop before fleeing the scene. Chelan County Sheriff’s Office also had probable cause to arrest Dominguez for an eluding incident that occurred on October 11 th , 2022, where he refused to stop and fled from Chelan County Deputies.
CRDTF Detectives as well as Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Deputies and East Wenatchee Police Officers surrounded the residence where Dominguez was last seen. Dominguez initially refused to come out when given lawful orders to do so, but he eventually did surrender and was booked for his Felony warrants, Felony Eluding, and driving with a suspended license in the 3rd degree.
Sheriff Brian Burnett reports on Monday October 10th, 2022, Ben Delahunty, a 28 year old Montana man, was rescued from the Lake Viviane area south of Leavenworth. His hiking partner called RiverCom dispatch at approximately 9:30 am to report his friend was trapped under a large boulder in the area of Lake Viviane. A CCSO Search and Rescue coordinator was able to communicate with him by phone. He said his friend’s wrist was pinned by the boulder and it was also across his legs. They were unable to move the boulder as it was approximately the size of a refrigerator.
The Location of the Mr. Delahunty was several hours hike from the trailhead and the scenario presented a unique challenge of getting equipment capable of moving a boulder as well as rescuers on scene in a timely manner. A call was made to State Emergency Management to request a hoist capable helicopter. Local fire agencies were also contacted for equipment to move the boulder.
The Wenatchee Valley Department has air bladders capable of lifting the boulder and they could be inflated with air cylinders. They also offered the use of their helicopter 1MR to assist in getting rescuers and equipment to the scene. Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office Helicopter Rescue Team also responded on SnoHawk10, a hoist capable helicopter. SnoHawk10 was able to insert the first paramedics via hoist to the patient at approximately 12:20. 1MR began shuttling rescuers and equipment to the scene while SnoHawk10 was inserting the medics. Rescuers from Cascade Ambulance, Chelan County Mountain Rescue, Wenatchee Valley Fire Department, and Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team were all inserted to complete the rescue. Additional equipment was provided by Chelan County Fire District 3.
The crews that were inserted immediately found this rescue had additional challenges. Mr. Delahunty’s location was in an area that needed ropes to safely access and there was a risk of a fall while working on the boulder. Using the air bladders, they were able to free him from the boulder at approximately 2:50 pm.
By the time Mr. Delahunty was freed from the boulder, winds had picked making the first attempt to hoist him from his position and an attempt to pick him up from a nearby landing zone unsuccessful. Additional volunteers from Chelan County Mountain Rescue responded on the ground in case they had to bring him out in a wheeled litter. At 4:45 pm there was enough of a break in the weather to allow Snohomish County to attempt another hoist operation. They were successful and transported Mr. Delahunty to Central Washington Hospital. He has significant injuries to his leg but is expected to recover.
The rescuers on scene hiked out over the next several hours making it to the trailhead at approximately 11:00 pm.
This rescue presented challenges not seen very often and could not have been accomplished without the partnerships established with local and out-of-area agencies.
Sheriff Burnett reports on 10/8/2022, Deputies were dispatched to a report of a body in the Columbia River at Rock Island Dam. Detectives were called to the scene and recovered a deceased male from the water.
Chelan County Coroner Wayne Harris currently has custody of the body and will be working with Detectives to positively identify the deceased.
At this time, there is no evidence of foul play and detectives do not believe there is an immediate threat to the public.
Sheriff Brian Burnett reports on Saturday September 24th, 41-year-old Swaminathan Sundaram of Redmond died while hiking Aasgard Pass south of Leavenworth, WA.
At approximately 10:00 am RiverCom Dispatch was advised of multiple InReach activations in the area of Aasgard Pass. The activations indicated there was a medical emergency and they needed help.
Through various messages it was determined the group had been performing CPR since about 9:40 am. It was confirmed through radio communications after a USFS trail rangers arrived on scene that CPR was still underway. The USFS Trail Rangers assisted throughout the remainder of the operation.
Due to the remote location and the urgency, Chelan County Sheriff’s Office SAR Deputies requested a hoist capable helicopter through State Emergency Management. Snohomish County Sheriff’s office accepted the mission as they were in the air already for training. The Snohomish County Helicopter arrived on scene at approximately 11:30 am and inserted a medical crew. The helicopter returned a short time later to pick up the patient along with the crew.
Life saving efforts continued for a short time in the air but they were unsuccessful.
The patient was transported to the Leavenworth Fish Hatchery landing pad where he was transferred to CCSO Deputies and the Chelan County Coroner’s Office.
It was determined Mr. Sundaram died of natural causes.
Aasgard Pass is a challenging and heavily travelled trail hikers use to access the Enchantments from the Stuart Lake Trailhead.
MVT WebCam 