Bend Oregon man arrested for fentanyl trafficking after throwing pills from moving vehicle
By Mindy Gould on Tuesday, July 19th, 2022 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News Eastern/Southeast Oregon Top Stories
Terrebonne, Or(Release from Central Oregon Drug Enforcement)-On July 15, 2022, at approximately 4:00 AM, the Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Team concluded a short-term investigation with the arrest of Michael Quinn Hollibaugh, age 41, of Bend, Oregon.
During a concurrent investigation, drug Agents identified Hollibaugh as a fentanyl trafficker in the central Oregon area. The initial investigation alleges Mr. Hollibaugh imported fentanyl pills from the Portland area into central Oregon where he distributes them.
During a multi-county surveillance operation, CODE Detectives observed criminal behavior consistent with drug distribution. At approximately, 4:00 AM, Mr. Hollibaugh was contacted during a traffic stop on Highway 97 at mile post 113 while he was driving a white Audi station wagon. As DCSO Deputies initiated the stop, Hollibaugh attempted to throw a package containing a commercial quantity of fake fentanyl tablets from the moving vehicle.
CODE Detectives and DCSO Deputies gathered and seized a commercial quantity of fake pharmaceutical tablets made of fentanyl and other evidence of commercial drug sales.
Fentanyl is a very strong synthetic opioid. Although fentanyl is made and used pharmaceutically, it is also produced illegally in Mexico and trafficked into the United States, usually as powder or fake prescription pills. A very small amount of fentanyl can cause someone to overdose and die.
While being transported to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Jail, Hollibaugh become unresponsive in the back of a patrol car. The DCSO Deputy recognized that Hollibaugh was in distress and pulled onto the highway shoulder before providing emergency medical interventions. Redmond Fire Department paramedics arrived and transported Hollibaugh to St Charles Health System – Redmond where he was treated and later released to Deputies.
Mr. Hollibaugh was lodged in the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Jail with the following criminal charges.
Unlawful Possession and Attempted Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Substance (Fentanyl)
Tampering with Evidence
CODE Detectives were assisted by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit and patrol Deputies.
CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp, 541-550-4869 or kentv@deschutes.org
The Central Oregon Drug Enforcement (CODE) team is a multi-jurisdictional narcotics task force supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) program and the following Central Oregon law enforcement agencies: Bend Police Department, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, Redmond Police Department, Prineville Police Department, Crook County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Madras Police Department, Oregon State Police, Sunriver Police Department, Black Butte Police Department, United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Warm Springs Tribal Police Department, Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson County District Attorney’s, and the Oregon National Guard.
The Oregon-Idaho HIDTA program is an Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored counterdrug grant program that coordinates and provides funding resources to multi-agency drug enforcement task forces to disrupt or dismantle local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations.
