Authorities apprehended an out-of-state murder suspect and dismantled an illegal marijuana growing operation near Merlin last week.
Detectives with the Oregon State Police assisted the Connecticut State Police with locating and apprehending 31-year-old Christopher Suarez in Josephine County on Wednesday. He was lodged in jail without bail pending extradition proceedings.
According to OSP, Suarez was wanted on a nationwide fugitive warrant for murder related to a shooting in Connecticut that occurred in February of this year. No other information on that incident was disclosed.
During the investigation, detectives determined Suarez was associated with an illegal marijuana grow in the Merlin area. A search warrant was served with help from the Josephine County Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office.
During execution of the warrant, four greenhouses and 796 marijuana plants were seized and destroyed. In addition, six grams of cocaine, three packages of meth and some unidentified orange pills were found and seized as evidence.
Due to the ongoing investigation, detectives said no further information will be released at this time.
