Police put notorious suspected drug den out of business

Published 10:45 pm Monday, September 6, 2010

GRANITE FALLS — The small house on Portage Avenue has drawn police attention since 1994.

Hundreds of times during the past 15 years, the cops have knocked on the door to investigate drug complaints.

Now, police say they hope they’ve visited Granite Falls’ most notorious drug house for the last time.

People will have to go elsewhere to buy their fix, Granite Falls Police Chief Tony Domish said.

“They’ll have to go to Rite-Aid now,” Domish said.

Since Tuesday, yellow crime scene tape has surrounded the blue-gray home. Heavily armed police moved in and raided the property. A bank took possession of the property and changed the locks. The man police say was the former owner, 43, was thrown in jail.

Domish said the raid is one more example of how the town once dubbed “Methville” has changed.

“This community has taken a big turn for the better,” Domish said.

Police have had the house under surveillance for months, he said.

In April, a confidential informant bought methamphetamine at the house and since has made at least two more buys while the former owner watched, police said. The former owner was arrested for investigation of unlawful use of a building for drug purposes, a felony. He’s since been released on his own recognizance. He declined to talk to The Herald.

The home has been a revolving door for criminals, reportedly the region’s favorite flop house, police said.

“Every stolen item within a 20-mile radius went through that house,” Granite Falls officer Darin Odegaard said.

During Tuesday’s raid, officers removed suspected illegal drugs and a collection of prescription drugs including powerful narcotics. They also rescued cats and dogs that appeared ill-treated, and recovered stolen property.

At least three people were led away in handcuffs.

The plan was for police to be patient and wait until the case was strong enough that officers and bank officials could move in and close the house down, Domish said.

In March, the home was purchased at auction by a bank, but bank officials told police they were frightened off each time they went to serve eviction notices, Domish said.

Since police moved in on Tuesday, neighbors said they’re delighted that the nightmare has come to an end.

Michael Lindquist has lived next door for about five years.

He said he’s watched as people used the yard as a bathroom; witnessed open air drug deals; and put up with noise at all hours of the day.

“It’s been a problem ever since I moved in,” Lindquist said.

For the past year, he’s called police to complain almost weekly.

“I’ve been a public nuisance myself trying to get rid” of the neighbors, he said.

After Tuesday’s raid, some neighbors cheered and others smoked cigars to celebrate.

“I like it that they’re gone,” neighbor Ian Campbell said. “Pretty much everyone in this whole neighborhood is.”

Drug use in Granite Falls has been on the national media’s radar since January 2003 when Rolling Stone magazine published a feature article about methamphetamine. The story was the first to tag Granite Falls as “Methville.”

The label has regularly resurfaced over the years as other national media trooped up to Granite Falls to cover the story. “People” magazine again used the label after the July 2006 killing of two women on the Pinnacle Lake Trail.

Drug problems exist in Granite Falls, but are no worse than any other community in Snohomish County, Domish said.

The raid last week is just one example of how a small police force will do what’s necessary to arrest drug users and dealers, he said.

“If you want to partake in this activity, do it someplace else,” the police chief said.

Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.