Three people were arrested Thursday after a lengthy multi-agency investigation into an illegal psychedelic mushroom farm in Terrebonne, according to authorities.
The Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement team, the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit and Central Oregon Drug Enforcement detectives executed three search warrants in Bend, Sisters, and Terrebonne Thursday morning.
These locations included the 6000 Block of NW 10th St. in Terrebonne, the 17000 block of Mountain View Road in Sisters, and the 61000 block of Linton Loop in Bend.
Sgt. Kent Vander Kamp said during the search in Terrebonne, detectives found a sizeable, complex, and illicit active psilocybin incubation facility, grow chamber, and packaging center.
Psychedelic psilocybin, approved for limited therapeutic use by voters last fall, remains a Schedule 1 controlled substance. Indoor mushroom growing can produce airborne mold, fungus, and spores attached to clothing and food.
It is common knowledge that prolonged exposure to mold and fungus can cause numerous medical conditions, especially in children, Vander Kamp said.
While dismantling this psilocybin facility, detectives donned protective respirators and clothing to prevent exposure to the airborne mold, fungus, and spores.
The entire dismantling, evidence collection, and decontamination process took about eight hours to complete.
Ultimately, detectives collected a substantial amount of illegal psilocybin and a firearm from the Terrebonne facility, Vander Kamp said.
In Bend, a commercial quantity of processed psilocybin and cannabis were found with other related manufacturing paraphernalia inside the home on Linton Loop.
Two AR-style rifles and a pistol, with a large sum of cash, were also seized.
The house is located in the Sagewood Community in West Bend.
It also is occupied by the suspect’s minor children, whom detectives determined had been exposed to the psilocybin manufacturing process and storage within the home, Vander Kamp said.
Oregon DHS Child Welfare workers assisted at the scene to care for the children and arrange for a property safety plan with the family.
Both 36-years-old, a man and woman were cited and released at the Bend scene on charges of possessing felony amounts of processed marijuana, the unlawful possession and manufacture of psilocybin, and Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.
In Sisters, Detectives contacted a 48-year-old man who is part of the psilocybin organization, Vander Kamp said.
During the search of the Squaw Creek Canyon home, detectives located and seized a sizeable cache of processed marijuana and currency.
The Sisters man was cited and released at the scene on charges of possessing felony amounts of processed marijuana and unlawful manufacture of marijuana.
This investigation is ongoing, and additional arrests are expected soon.
The investigation was a collaboration with the Deschutes County Illegal Marijuana Enforcement team and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Street Crimes Unit and Central Oregon Drug Enforcement Detectives.
