Big raid finds meth but little else
The raid at two Spokane Valley apartment complexes last week was triggered by a common law enforcement ally: the confidential informant.
Versed in the criminal world and eager to shed criminal charges, the confidential informant typically arranges drug buys using police money, then gives the drugs to police to instigate an investigation.
That's exactly what happened to Ryan J. Lund, 27, and Robert R. Castillo, 35, who face charges of delivery of a controlled substance, methamphetamine. Lund was arrested Tuesday; Castillo remains at large.
Spokane County Sheriff's detectives thought they would find the men with property believed to have been stolen by a group of 13- and 14-year-olds from apartments in the Pines/I-90 corridor, but they found only a stolen shotgun, a cell phone, a laptop and a small amount of marijuana and methamphetamine, according to a search warrant filed in Spokane County District Court.
More than 50 employees from various law enforcement agencies raided four apartments in the 2820 block of North Cherry, including Lund's, as well as Castillo's apartment at 9310 E. Montgomery.
The confidential informant bought meth at the locations several times since July, according to the search warrant.
The jackpot turned out to be the three other apartments at North Cherry, though their connection to Castillo and Lund is unclear. In those apartments, police found digital camera, computers, mp3 players, DVD players and tool boxes.
Police suspect the teens involved in burglaries throughout August and traded the items for cash and marijuana, according to a search warrant filed in Spokane County Superior Court. No adults have been charged in that case yet.