Drug trafficking bust made on Cascade Avenue

Detectives assigned to the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team arrested two Prineville residents in Sisters on Tuesday, March 31, as the result of a long-term investigation by the CODE team into the illegal trafficking of commercial quantities of methamphetamine into Central Oregon.

Detectives assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Department contacted and arrested Shannon Ritchie, 48, and Kristin Loranger, 39, at the intersection of East Cascade Avenue and North Fir Street at about 11 p.m. Both were contacted during a traffic stop of a silver Honda CRV in which Loranger was the driver and Ritchie was the passenger.

The CODE Team reported that during a search of the vehicle at the time of the stop, approximately 1.8 pounds of methamphetamine was located concealed within the vehicle, along with other evidence of the sales and distribution of methamphetamine.

Ritchie and Loranger were transported to the Deschutes County Adult Jail on charges of possession and distribution of a controlled substance.