On the morning of Tuesday, 30 July 2019, detectives with the Illegal Marijuana Enforcement Team (IMET) served search warrants at two neighbouring properties in the 900-block and 600-block of Upper River Road near Gold Hill.[1][2] Detectives found indoor and outdoor growing operations with more than 1,000 marijuana plants, which they described as a black-market collective with no permits to grow or process marijuana for recreational, commercial or medical use.[1][2]

Detectives also found a laboratory producing butane honey oil, a concentrated form of cannabis.[1][2] An Oregon State Police team was called in to help safely dismantle the lab.[1]

Two suspects present during the warrants were arrested: Michael Glen Newmann, 66, of the 900-block of Upper River Road, and Joshua Carey of Homedale, Idaho.[1][2] Newmann was jailed on charges related to the unlawful possession, manufacture and delivery of marijuana and butane honey oil, while Carey was jailed for unlawful manufacture of marijuana.[1][2] IMET detectives were assisted by the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement team and Jackson County sheriff’s deputies.[1]