Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Sweet Home police arrested two persons in connection to a drug-related search warrant served at 1902 19th Ave., Police Chief Bob Burford said.
Police arrested Katrina Marie Tenbusch, 25, and Michaele Sean Buckles, 41, Monday on charges of possession and delivery of a controlled substance, methamphetamine.
Burford anticipated additional arrests.
“On Nov. 18 at 7:35 a.m., Sweet Home officers and detectives, assisted by other members of the Linn County drug team, served a drug-related search warrant at 1902 19th Ave.,” Burford said. The search warrant was the result of a continuing investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in the Sweet Home area, the chief said.
“Seized during the search warrant was a small amount of methamphetamine and marijuana as well as scales and packaging material consistent with a sales operation,” Burford said. “Approximately $750 in cash was also seized along with several items of stolen property taken from Sweet Home-area victims.”
Burford said the investigation is continuing. No one was arrested at the time of the search.
“This is one of those drug houses we just keep going back to,” Burford said. “We are coordinating our efforts with the code enforcement officer and city and county building inspectors in an effort to shut down this operation.”
Properties in the area, including 1902, 1904 and 1904B 19th Ave., have been in the code enforcement process long-term, Code Enforcement Officer Mikayla Rossiter said. Most recently, she said, the city cited property owner Stanley Tenbusch on Aug. 25 for seven code violations, ranging from living in an RV, attractive nuisance and nuisance affecting public health to storage of vehicles, trash, junk and appliances in public view.
Tenbusch has more than $700 in unpaid fines owed to Sweet Home Municipal Court related to code violations, according to court records.
New citations are pending against Tenbusch, and he is scheduled for a court appearance on Dec. 1 on existing citations.
Rossiter and building official Wess Rowley visited the property, at the request of police, while the search warrant was served.
They are working with the other agencies, and, Rossiter said, she expects to issue more citations for similar violations.
Rowley took photos of electrical hookups outside the 1902 19th Avenue property and forwarded those to Linn County’s building program, which handles electrical issues.
“Why this place hasn’t burned down I just don’t know,” Burford said.
“A piece of 12- or 14-gauge internal house wiring was stretched across the ground from another house into the back door of the residence. It was openly spliced and strung throughout the house. The wire was warm to the touch.
“As our officers made entry, one of those cords apparently pulled loose and began arcing at their feet.
“What’s taking place in that corner of the neighborhood is not fair to those law-abiding property owners who see their property values affected by a mess like this,” Burford said.