PORT ANGELES — The North Olympic Peninsula’s drug law enforcement team has netted eight people alleged to have sold methamphetamine or prescription drugs as part of an ongoing operation.
Forks police, working with other Clallam County officers, arrested two men Thursday alleged to have sold meth, prescription pills or both.
That followed the arrest of five alleged meth dealers in Port Angeles on Tuesday and March 4. A man who allegedly sold Percocet was arrested in Port Angeles last Saturday.
The arrests were part of an ongoing operation by the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team, said Port Angeles Detective Sgt. Eric Kovatch, who is also an OPNET investigator. OPNET consists of officers from each of the law enforcement agencies in Clallam and Jefferson counties.
Kovatch estimated that the alleged dealers in Port Angeles and Forks were selling a combined total of 12 ounces of meth a week.
Five of the alleged dealers have been charged.
They are:
■ Ryan J. Charles-Elofson, 31, of Port Angeles: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance (meth), unlawful possession of a loaded rifle or shotgun in a motor vehicle.
■ Keri L. Charles, 31, of Port Angeles: delivery of a controlled substance (meth).
■ Jeneva M. Maneval, 32, of Port Angeles: unlawful use of a building for drug purposes, two counts of delivery of a controlled substance (meth), one count of delivery of a controlled substance (meth) as an accomplice.
■ Bradley M. Holloway, 32, of Port Angeles: possession of a controlled substance (meth) with intent to deliver.
■ Bradford R. Boulden, 25, of Port Angeles: delivery of a controlled substance (Percocet).
They will each be arraigned in Clallam County court Friday, March 18.
Ami A.M. Conlon, 30, of Port Angeles was also arrested as part of the operation. She has not been charged.
In Forks, police arrested Steven A. Nielsen and Roger A. Carnett, both 25, on investigation of delivery of controlled substances, said Police Chief Doug Price, adding that police are investigating both for sales of prescription medication and of Carnett also for meth.
As part of the operation, authorities used informants to buy drugs from the alleged dealers.
OPNET Cmdr. Ron Cameron said the arrests were part of a larger operation and that more arrests are expected.
None of the people arrested are believed to have manufactured meth, authorities said.
But that doesn’t make the arrests any less significant, said Cameron, who is also the chief criminal deputy with the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.
“For us, even if it’s an ounce, it means a lot,” he said. “Especially with meth.”
Most of the meth sold on the Peninsula is believed to be manufactured elsewhere, Cameron said.
Use of meth has been on the rise over the past couple of years, he said, which is why OPNET is conducting the operation.
“We focus on what the problem is at any given time,” Cameron said.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.