PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles man has been sentenced to 20 months in prison after he pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
The charge against Talon Michael Smith, 39, arose from a June 17 traffic stop that yielded an estimated $75,000 in fentanyl, according to a press release from the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET).
Smith’ sentence will be followed by 12 months of state Department of Corrections supervision. He still faces multiple charges for unrelated incidents in Snohomish County, the release said.
Smith, who was sentenced on Tuesday, was listed as being in the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton as of Friday morning.
The arrest and sentencing were the result of a Port Angeles police officer responding to a welfare check request in the alley between Fourth and Fifth streets near Jones Street at about 1:15 a.m. June 17, OPNET said.
The officer discovered a Chevy Tahoe parked in the travel portion of the alley with the motor running, the release said.
A man later identified as Smith appeared unconscious but breathing and drug paraphernalia was spotted in the car, according to OPNET.
The officer activated his vehicle’s lights to indicate it was a traffic stop, OPNET said.
OPNET said the officer also spotted bags of suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl pills on the floor and between the seats in the front of the car.
Officers said Smith initially provided a false name but eventually was arrested for investigation of physical control of a vehicle while under the influence.
On June 20, OPNET detectives conducted a search of the vehicle. Some of the evidence recovered included:
• A portable radio with local law enforcement radio channels programmed into it.
• A Glock airsoft pistol.
• An AR-15 airsoft rifle.
• Digital scales with drug residue.
• Approximately 5,000 blue fentanyl pills with a street value of about $20,000.
• 210.94 grams of methamphetamine with a street value of about $8,400.
• 456.53 grams of fentanyl powder in brick form with a street value of about $45,653.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at brian.gawley@soundpublishing.com.
