Sedro Woolley Couple and Son Arrested in Batey Street Drug Raid

Sedro Woolley, WA:  Just before 11 am on May 27th, 2015, the Sedro Woolley Police Department served a search warrant on a house in the 1200 block of Batey Street in Sedro Woolley.

According to the probable cause affidavit for arrest, Jamie Velazquez Sr. and Ericka Orduna have been arrested and are being held in the Skagit County Jail on an investigative hold. A 17-year old juvenile male was also arrested.

The charges against the couple are  for (4) Counts of Violation of the Uniformed Controlled Substance Act with Intent to deliver Methamphetamine, Conspiracy to deliver drugs, including using a minor in the delivery of drugs. Maintaining a drug house with school zone enhancements.  The probable cause affidavit states that Mr Velasquez Sr. used his 17 year old son and live in girlfriend to deliver the meth.  This puts him in a “leadership” role in the current case.

Mr. Velazquez  Sr. has past convictions  for drugs (VUCSA)  that include a leadership role. He is currently on Federal Probation until 1/23/2016 after being arrested and convicted in a local case where he was charged  by the DEA in Whatcom County for distribution of Methamphetamine.

Details of the current arrests are outlined below from  the probable cause affidavit that was obtained via a public disclosure request from  the Skagit County Prosecutors office.

Over the past year the Sedro Woolley Police Department has developed the following information on the case against Jamie Velazquez Sr after they received numerous citizen complaints and used criminal informants (CI), officer reports and witnesses to build their case against him.  He is accused of selling methamphetamine in a leadership role within 600 feet of the Sedro Woolley High School.

In December of 2014, a Federal Probation Officer did a walk through at Mr. Velazquez residence in the 1200 block of Batey Street in Sedro Woolley. The probation officer saw a large stack of $100 and $20 bills sitting on the dryer in the laundry room.  Mr. Velazquez Sr. said that the money was sent to him from his girlfriends mother.

In March of 2015 the Sedro Woolley Police Department developed a Criminal informant (CI). The C.I. Stated they have been purchasing methamphetamine from Jaime Velazquez Sr for the last year or two.

The C.I. provided information on Mr. Velazquez including his home address and information on the different  vehicles he drives, a black SUV, a red Acura and a white Lincoln Navigator.  The C.I. stated that most of the time Mr. Velazquez Sr’s 17 year old son does the deliveries. On Occasion, his girlfriend Ericka Orduna does them.   Police looked into the claims and confirmed them via controlled buys.  A white Lincoln Navigator was observed by Sedro Woolley Police in the driveway at the residence and it was registered to an Edgar Huerta. Mr. Huerta was charged in 2014 with Dangerous Drugs by the DEA in Bellingham, Washington.

On April 18th, 2015, while on patrol and in a fully marked police vehicle, officers attempted to stop a red Acura for failing to stop at a stop sign at West Nelson and State Route 9. . The Acura is  registered to Ericka Orduna.    The vehicle attempted to elude the officers for several blocks, making quick and sudden turns, before stopping.   Mr. Velazquez Sr’s 17-year old Son was driving the vehicle and was arrested for Driving under the Influence. A search warrant was granted for the vehicle after a drug detection K-9 alerted on the vehicle. Officers located 3.4 grams of methamphetamine packaged in a cellophane package that was tied off, about one-half a block from where the vehicle was finally stopped.  There was additional evidence next to the methamphetamine that matched evidence seen in plain view inside the car.  (Case #15-W02200).  It appeared the the driver had thrown the methamphetamine from the vehicle during his erratic driving prior to stopping.

On April 23rd, 2015, Sedro Woolley Police contacted the registered owner, Ericka Orduna, and informed her that the vehicle would be seized because it was being used in a drug transaction and they had evidence to prove it.  The Registered owner said her step son didn’t have permission to use the car and that she didn’t know why there would be drugs in the car because “I’m a good person, and I’m not involved in drugs at all.”  Officers asked her to come down to the station and fill out an affidavit stating those facts.  

On April 29th, 2015 Ericka Orduna  went to the Sedro Woolley Police station and filled out a written statement.

Buy #1. The last week of April 2015, the Sedro Woolley Police Department utilizing the Criminal informant, arranged to purchase methamphetamine from Mr. Velazquez Sr.  Mr. Velazquez Sr. agreed to sell them an 8-ball.  An 8-ball is  a street term commonly used by drug dealers and drugs users to reference a quantity of drugs they wish to purchase, in this case 1/8th of an ounce. Officers had set up surveillance of the residence on Batey Street and watched as a white Lincoln Navigator left the residence.  Undercover officers watched as the vehicle drove to the agreed upon meeting place. The C.I went to the vehicle and made the transaction. The vehicle’s sole occupant and driver  was Ericka Orduna, Mr. Velazquez Sr’s live in girlfriend.  The exchange took less than 1 minute to complete.  The buy location was less than 400 feet from an elementary school bus stop. The drugs obtained from the transaction were confirmed to be methamphetamine and weighed 4.0 grams.

Buy #2, The First week in May 2015.  The Sedro Woolley Police Department, utilizing a Criminal Informant (C.I.) arranged to purchase Methamphetamine from Mr. Velazquez Sr.  The C.I. asked for an 8-ball. Mr. Velazquez Sr agreed and stated he was on his way to meet at a specific location within the City Limits of Sedro Woolley.  About 15 minutes later the C.I. called Mr. Velazquez Sr and he stated” My guy is on his way, he’s riding a bike”.   Officers in the area of the Batey Road residence witnessed the son of Mr. Velazquez leave the residence on a men’s bicycle. Minutes later, undercover officers at the meeting location witnessed the mans son,  as he rode his bike to the meeting location with the C.I.  The transaction netted 5.2 grams of confirmed Methamphetamine.  Undercover officers followed the son as he rode his bicycle back to the residence on Batey Street. The buy location was less than 400 feet from an elementary school bus stop.

Buy #3. The 2nd week of May 2015. The Sedro Woolley Police Department using a Criminal Informant (C.I) arranged to purchase Methamphetamine from Mr. Velazquez Sr. Mr. Velazquez had texted and asked if the C.I. needed anything. The C.I. had not responded because he did not recognize the number. Mr. Velazquez Sr. then called the C.I and told him he had a new number and asked if he needed anything.  The C.I. said not yet.  The following day the C.I called Mr. Velazquez and ordered an 8 ball.  After obtaining the proper warrants the phone call was recorded.

A short time later the C.I texted Mr. Velazquez and asked where he was. Mr. Velazquez said he would be there in 5 minutes.  Officers were in the area of the Batey Road address and were able to photograph a white Lincoln Navigator as it left the residence.  4 minutes later the Lincoln arrived at the agreed upon meeting spot.  The sole occupant and driver of the vehicle was identified as Mr. Velazquez Sr.  The exchange took less than 1 minute and Officers in the area of the Batey Road house observed the Lincoln as it returned to the residence about 5 minutes later.

The substance was confirmed as methamphetamine and weighed 3.9 grams.  The buy location was less than 400 feet from an Elementary School bus stop.

Attempted buy- The 2nd Week of May 2015: Mr. Velazquez called the C.I. to inquire with them if they needed any Methamphetamine, because he had some to sell. The C.I. stated he would be in touch in a day or two.

Buy #4. The 4th Week of May 2015.  The Sedro Woolley Police Department, utilizing a Criminal Informant (C.I.) arranged to purchase Methamphetamine from Mr. Velazquez Sr.  Officers were in the are of the Batey Street address as Mr. Velazquez Sr.  left the residence in the White Lincoln Navigator. A short time later the vehicle arrived at the agreed upon meeting location. The exchange took less that one minute.  Officer in the area of Batey Street witnessed the Lincoln Navigator return to the residence, driven by Mr. Velazquez Sr.  about 4 to 5 minutes later. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 3.8 grams.

Attempted Buy: The last week of May 2015. The Sedro Woolley Police Department, utilizing a Criminal Informant attempted to buy Methamphetamine from Mr. Velazquez Sr. He stated he was unavailable, but would be able to deliver the Methamphetamine the next day.

May 27th 2015:  The Sedro Woolley Police department served a drug search warrant at the residence in the 1200 block of Batey Street in Sedro Woolley  where Ericka Orduna was arrested. She is currently being held on $100,000 bail.

Jamie Velazquez Sr was arrested in the 700 block of South 2nd Street in Mount Vernon. He is currently being held on a $500,000 bail.

A 17-year old Juvenile was arrested at the Sedro Woolley High School.

Witnesses watched as officers removed quite a few items from the residence during their drug search. The witnesses, who asked that they were not identified, stated “The police removed one of the largest TV’s I’ve ever seen and all sorts of random items, like air compressors and other things. I don’t know if the stuff was stolen or just purchased with drug money, but they took the stuff out of there”

The witness went on to say, “There are two other known drug houses in the neighborhood and I hope the police shut them down too. We want our neighborhood back from these criminals.”  “The poor woman that owns that house went missing in 2010 and her estate has been trying to deal with it ever since.”

We looked into the owner information of the house and it is owned by Patti Krieger.  Patti went missing on Sauk Mountain near Rockport, Washington on October 2nd, 2010 under suspicious circumstances.  Additional details of her disappearance can be found at www.FindPattiKrieger.com 

 

** Note: All three subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of Law.