Assisted by multiple agencies, Rogue Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) arrested a suspect for drug and weapon crimes after serving a search warrant in the Colonial Valley area north of Grants Pass this week.
On Monday around 4 p.m., members of the RADE team, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Grants Pass Police Department, Oregon State Police Explosives Unit and US Homeland Security served the warrant in the 300-block of Colonial Drive.
The search warrant revealed multiple ounces of methamphetamine, eight firearms (three of which were stolen), US currency and illegal explosives including blasting caps and other destructive devices.
The suspect -- 76-year-old Michael Edward Dills -- was placed into custody and booked into the Josephine County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Unlawful Possession of Meth. Additional drug- and gun-related charges against Dills were referred to the District Attorney's Office for consideration.
The RADE team is a multi-jurisdictional task force that identifies, disrupts and dismantles local, multi-state and international drug trafficking organizations using an intelligence-driven, multi-agency and prosecutor-supported approach.
RADE is supported by the Oregon-Idaho High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. It is composed of officers from OSP, GPPD, Josephine County Community Corrections and the Josephine County District Attorney's Office.
