Eugene, Ore. – From March 2022, several members of the Eugene Police Street Crimes Unit began to get information regarding significant quantities of drugs and some firearms being at a residence in the 27000 block of Royal.
During an investigation, SCU determined the residents, Joe Anthony Harker, age 38, and Shayla Kay Lawray Bennett, age 27, were involved, and applied for a search warrant, which was granted by a judge.
This was served on May 17 and due to the possibility of firearms being present, the operation included members of EPD’s SCU, Oregon State Police and SCU K9 drug detection units, Special Investigations Unit, Drone Team, and Special Weapons and Tactics Team (S.W.A.T.). Harker had left his residence and after a traffic stop was taken into custody without incident by SWAT.
During the search warrant service operation, SCU recovered more than six pounds of methamphetamine, more than one pound of heroin, approximately 11, 000 suspected fentanyl pills (to be tested at a lab due to the dangers of fentanyl), and more than a pound of cocaine. Rough estimates have the drugs at $95,000 dollars in wholesale value.
Some suspected stolen items were seized, along with a stolen firearm and several loaded magazine to handguns.
Harker, age 38, was lodged at the Lane County Jail on probable cause charges of: Unlawful Delivery of Heroin, Unlawful Possession of Heroin, Unlawful Delivery of Cocaine, Unlawful Possession of Cocaine, Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine, Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine, Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Child Neglect in the First Degree.
Bennett, was lodged at the Lane County Jail on probable cause charges of: Child Neglect in the First Degree and Unlawful Possession of Methamphetamine (felony).
Eugene Police Street Crimes Unit
The SCU has been focusing on prolific offenders, who are identified through intelligence-based policing, public tips and other sources. They have been proactively responding across the city to quality of life issues as they arise, using all available resources and partners such as community groups, neighborhood associations and city services. SCU is dedicated to targeting immediate and acute community safety system issues while working toward mission-critical enhancements that need to be addressed through a longer-term and broader community safety initiative. The unit currently consists of a lieutenant, a sergeant and five officers, including one officer with a drug detection K9.
(information from EPD)
