On November 9, 2018 a local auto dealer in Albany posted a vehicle for sale on an online marketplace. The dealer received a message from a potential buyer requesting to trade a substantial amount of marijuana for the vehicle.
The auto dealer contacted the Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Taskforce for assistance. An investigator from LINE made contact with the purchaser and an agreed upon amount was established in trade for the vehicle.
At about 6:40 PM, 38 year old Matthew Theron Franks, of Independence, Oregon arrived at a predetermined meet location and was apprehended by the Taskforce. Over 5 pounds of marijuana was seized and Franks was arrested for Unlawful Delivery of Marijuana for Consideration. He was lodged at the Linn County Jail.
Anyone with narcotics trafficking information is encouraged to contact LINE at 541-791-0102.
The LINE Taskforce was established as a result of Linn County being designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) in 2016. The team is comprised of investigators from the Linn County Sheriff's Office, Albany Police Department, Lebanon Police Department, Sweet Home Police Department, Oregon State Police, Eugene office of Drug Enforcement Administration and Oregon National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.
The mission of LINE is to reduce illegal drug trafficking in the Linn County area by identifying, disrupting, or dismantling drug trafficking and money laundering organizations through cooperative efforts, enforcement, and intelligence sharing by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
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On Saturday, 10-27-18, two juveniles broke into the New Hope Church, 2817 SE Santiam Hwy, Albany. They proceeded to move throughout the different areas of the church with baseball bats, causing damage to walls, fixtures, furniture, and electronics. Preliminary damage estimates were reported to be as much as $200,000. The juveniles actions were captured on surveillance video, which led to their arrests on 10-30-18. Both juvenile males, one 15 and the other 13, are from Albany. There is no indication of this being a hate crime. Suspect names are not being released at this time.
On October 23, 2018 at about 7:36 PM the Linn County Sheriff's Office responded to the report of a loud explosion in the 37000 block of River Drive in Lebanon, Oregon. It was reported to be a drug lab explosion and there was someone badly injured. When deputies arrived they found evidence of an explosion and fire damage to a conex style box trailer. Lebanon Fire Department and members of the Albany Fire Department Hazardous Materials team responded.
26 year old, Nicholas Helms, a Lebanon resident, had been transported to the Lebanon Community Hospital with over 50% of his body burned. Helms was later transported to OHSU.
Members of the Linn Interagency Narcotics Enforcement (LINE) taskforce were called to the scene and began an investigation. Evidence of an illegal BHO lab was seized along with multiple pounds of marijuana, US currency and firearms.
The Oregon State Police Explosives Unit was called to the scene for blasting caps found at the location.
Anyone with information about the explosion is encouraged to contact LINE at 541-791-0102.
The LINE Taskforce was established as a result of Linn County being designated as a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) in 2016. The team is comprised of investigators from the Linn County Sheriff's Office, Albany Police Department, Lebanon Police Department, Sweet Home Police Department, Oregon State Police, Eugene office of Drug Enforcement Administration and Oregon National Guard Counterdrug Task Force.
The mission of LINE is to reduce illegal drug trafficking in the Linn County area by identifying, disrupting, or dismantling drug trafficking and money laundering organizations through cooperative efforts, enforcement, and intelligence sharing by local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
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