PORT ANGELES — The North Olympic Peninsula’s drug enforcement team said it made its largest heroin bust in recent memory Friday.
Officers with the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team — or OPNET — made up of each law enforcement agency in Clallam and Jefferson counties, arrested an alleged dealer in Port Angeles and said they found more than 4 ounces of black-tar heroin in his residence.
Michael J. Reid, 57, of Port Angeles was arrested for investigation of delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.
He was booked into Clallam County jail and will make an appearance in Clallam County Superior Court on Monday.
“This is the biggest one in the last eight years, pretty much guaranteed,” said Port Angeles Detective Sgt. Eric Kovatch of the bust.
Kovatch said Reid was likely selling an ounce of heroin a day.
Officers arrested him at about 9 a.m. as he was taking out the trash outside his home in the 700 block of East First Street.
Kovatch said heroin is a rising problem right now for law enforcement.
“Heroin and [prescription] pills are a big thing right now, and for us take a guy moving that much is significant for this area,” he said.
Kovatch said heroin use is tied to the rising popularity of prescription pills that act as a depressant because the two can be used as substitutes for each other.
“If you can’t get the pill, really the only alternative is heroin,” he said.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
