$30K, Meth, And More Seized In Drug Bust In Polk, Marion Counties

DALLAS, OR — Oregon State Police seized more than $30,000 in cash and more than three pounds of methamphetamine when they arrested four people from Dallas last week following a five-month investigation into the distribution of heroin and meth in Polk County.

Felipe Rodriquez Jr. and Ronald Len Selby were taken to the Marion County Jail following their arrests; Monique Sherice Somora was taken to Polk County Jail, and Jesse Ayala was cited and released. Charges were distributed as follows:

• Rodriguez, 33, was charged with unlawful possession and delivery of heroin, meth, and cocaine, as well as a probation violation;
• Selby, 48, was charged with unlawful possession and delivery of meth only;
• Somora, 33, was charged with hindering prosecution and tampering with evidence; and
• Ayala, 26, was charged with possession of heroin.

According to state troopers, detectives from the Polk Interagency Narcotics Team (POINT) were investigating the heroin/meth ring in Dallas for the past five months.

While driving a Ford Taurus on Portland Road in Salem, Rodriguez and Selby were reportedly stopped by Oregon State Police shortly before 5 p.m. Dec. 14.

In Rodriguez and Selby's possession was 3.4 pounds of meth and more than $30,700 in cash, Polk County authorities said. Both men were taken to the Marion County Jail.

Roughly four hours later, around 8:50 p.m., Somora — who is reportedly Rodriguez's wife — was seen entering and leaving the apartment where the couple lives in Dallas. She then got into a 4-door pickup and left the property, Polk County authorities said.

Dallas police officers reportedly pulled over the pickup shortly after Somora left the apartment. In the truck with Somora was Ayala and another unnamed woman, as well as three locked safes — which belonged to Rodriguez, Somora reportedly told police.

Back at the apartment, detectives found two more safes, authorities said.

From all five safes, police seized ammunition (9mm, .40 caliber, and .44 caliber), drug records, a baggie with a small amount of cocaine, a shirt with a sewn-in sleeve to conceal a handgun, and paraphernalia with heroin residue, Polk County authorities said.

Somora was taken to — and remains at — the Polk County Jail; Ayala was cited and released; and the unnamed woman was not charged with any crimes, Polk County authorities said.

Rodriguez remains in custody; Selby was released Dec. 16 due to overcrowding at the Marion County Jail.

Images via Oregon State Police