Press release from: Clackamas Co. Sheriff's Office

CCITF arrests alleged heroin dealer, 21, reportedly dealing to young customers in Molalla area

Posted: April 14, 2011, 10:56 a.m.



Photos:

Video: Available to media on CCSO's FTP site; contact PIO Det. Jim Strovink for details




Please reference Clackamas County Inter-Agency Task Force Case #11-70063.

At approximately 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13, 2011, members of the Clackamas County Inter-agency Task Force (CCITF) arrested an alleged active heroin dealer with a reportedly large customer base in and around the City of Molalla.

Molalla Police and CCITF investigators had learned of ongoing extensive, heroin use in the Molalla area. They began to investigate -- and identified and arrested alleged dealer in Molalla.

Molalla Police Officer Scott Douglas, assigned to the CCITF, is pleased about the arrest, but concerned about its implications. The 17-year law-enforcement veteran has recognized increased heroin use in his community -- including among high-school-age boys and girls.

Late Wednesday afternoon (April 13, 2011), CCITF investigators arrested Ulises Giron, Jr., 21, at his residence -- located in an outbuilding situated on his parents' property at 419 Metzler Road in Molalla.

Ulises Giron, Jr. is allegedly a user and dealer of heroin. He was interviewed, arrested, transported and lodged in the Clackamas County Jail on the following charges:

• Possession of a Controlled Substance -- Heroin
• Distribution of a Controlled Substance -- Heroin
• Child Neglect


Ulises Giron, Jr., is scheduled for arraignment on this matter in Clackamas County Circuit Court on Thursday, April 14, 2011, at 3 p.m.
 
During the course of the investigation at the Metzler Road residence, it was learned that Ulises Giron, Jr.'s girlfriend -- identified as Amanda Richardson, age 20, mother of a 2-year-old child -- resided with Giron, Jr. in an outbuilding structure on the Metzler Road property. Both Richardson and child were present at the scene of the investigation. Richardson is an alleged heroin user.

Amanda Richardson's 2-year-old child was taken into protective state custody by CCITF agents. Richardson was not arrested on this occasion. However, investigative reports concerning Richardson are expected to be forwarded to the Clackamas County District Attorney's Office in the near future for consideration of prosecution.

During the course of the investigation, a steady stream of young men and women -- suspected customers -- were witnessed seeking heroin from Giron.

CCITF agents reportedly seized $700 in cash, scales, packaging material and a small quantity of suspected heroin at Ulises Giron, Jr.'s residence.

On this same day (Wednesday, April 13), CCITF agents reportedly witnessed a 17-year-old male, a Molalla resident, departing on foot after a suspected heroin transaction with Giron. A stop was initiated. The youthful suspect reportedly became frightened and ingested the recently purchased heroin. The youth was transported to a local hospital to address potential life-threatening issues resulting from swallowing the heroin.

Another male suspect -- Jay Austin Lais, 23, also of Molalla -- was stopped and contacted by CCITF agents after a suspected heroin transaction was negotiated with Giron at his outbuilding residence.

Jay Lais was found in possession of heroin, arrested, transported to the Clackamas County Jail and lodged on a charge of Possession of a Controlled Substance -- Heroin. He is scheduled for arraignment on this matter in Clackamas County Circuit Court on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 3 p.m.

Investigators estimate that they seized one-half ounce of heroin during the course of the day.

CCITF agents report that the parents of Ulises Giron, Jr., were unaware of the their son's alleged drug dealing, which was conducted from the separate living quarters.

While CCITF agents were on-scene serving their search warrant at the Metzler Road residence, additional Giron family members arrived to provide emotional support for Giron's reportedly distraught parents.

The CCITF is supervised by Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Scott Anderson. Sgt. Anderson reports:


This case started with the Molalla Detective assigned to CCITF (Douglas). He started noticing an uptick in young people being arrested with heroin and was hearing more from young people about the heroin problem at the high school. Then a taco truck robbery was reported where the suspect admitted he robbed the truck for money to buy heroin. The robbery suspect went straight to Ulises Giron's house and bought heroin with the robbery proceeds.

Douglas started investigating and observed several street deals occurring near parks and stores. He created a list of suspects and an educational video about the heroin problem to share with the police department to assist them while addressing the problem.
 
Surveillance revealed a lot of heroin activity in the city parks and businesses. More and more heroin use in Molalla and Ulises Giron's name kept coming up. Douglas, as part of the CCITF, enlisted our assistance and we started doing surveillance and arrested several customers or runners of Giron's leading to the search warrant today.
 
Last week we conducted surveillance of him (Giron) and saw hand to hand drug deals at his house and all over town...several of them. We contacted several people who admitted using heroin.

As a result, Detective Douglas prepared an affidavit seeking a search warrant.
 
Today we contacted a 17-year-old who ate his heroin when he saw the police car. He admitted buying the heroin from Giron's runner and swallowing it when he saw us. It was loosely wrapped in a piece of torn plastic grocery bag so it posed a serious threat to his health, forcing us to call paramedics and have him transported to the hospital for his own well-being.
 
The next guy we contacted leaving Giron's had 1/8 ounce of heroin he just bought from Giron. Not arrested but referred to GJ.
 
The next guy we contacted after witnessing a hand-to-hand with Giron was Jay Austin Lais. I stopped him and got 1/8 ounce of heroin from him. He admitted getting from Giron.
 
During the Giron search warrant we found a small amount of heroin, scales, drug records, packaging, and 700 dollars in cash hidden in his room. His girlfriend, Amanda Richardson and he live in a very small room in a converted garage on the property of Giron's parents. Giron and Richardson have a 2 year old baby between them, who was taken into protective DHS custody. Amanda is being investigated for Child Neglect-1.
 
Giron's parents had no idea Giron was selling heroin from their house as they work during the day while he sells heroin.

The parents and family were shocked when they found out and they were very cooperative with police. During surveillances we never saw any drug deals when the parents or brother were home, but as soon as they left -- the customers showed up. At times there were too many customers to keep track of.
 
It is hoped that this arrest will slow the tide of heroin coming into Molalla.


CCITF members participating in the ongoing Molalla heroin investigation include the Gladstone Police Department, the Molalla Police Department, Oregon State Police, and the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office.

TIPS SOUGHT

Anyone with additional information concerning this crime is encouraged to contact the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office's confidential Tip Line -- by phone at 503-723-4949 or by using the online e-mail form. Please reference Clackamas County Inter-Agency Task Force Case #11-70063.

The public can also submit crime-tip text messages to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office from a cell phone. All users have to do is send a text message to CRIMES (274637 on your phone keypad) -- with the keyword CCSO as the first word in the message body. Important reminder: Please do not send emergency messages using the text-messaging system -- in case of an emergency, call 911.

Please refer to Clackamas County Inter-Agency Task Force Case #11-70063.

[END]

Contact Info:
Jim Strovink, Detective
Clackamas County Sheriff's Office