Three arrested in Chinook after months long narcotics investigation

February 9, 2021 1:30 am

Three people were arrested on drug and other charges Friday after multiple Pacific County agencies served narcotics-related search warrants in Chinook.

Two residences in the Cherry Street and Bussone Lane area were served, the result of a months-long investigation into the sales of methamphetamine and heroin by the residents, said Pacific County Sheriff’s Office Chief Criminal Deputy Pat Matlock.

“The search of both residences yielded several ounces of suspected methamphetamine, two ounces of suspected heroin, five firearms, a large amount of drug paraphernalia indicative of sales and use, as well as cash,” said Matlock.

All three suspects arrested made their preliminary appearance in Pacific County Superior Court and will be arraigned in the coming weeks.

Matlock said Stephanie Griffith, 48, was arrested and taken to the Pacific County Jail for charges relating to possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of a controlled substance. Griffith was also held on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Her bail was set at $100,000.

Ronald Wardell, 54, faces charges three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, two counts of possession of a controlled substance, one count of unlawful use of a building for drug purposes and three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. Wardell’s bail was set at $100,000.

William LaChapelle, 27, was arrested and housed in the Pacific County Jail for one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and one count of possession of a controlled substance. LaChapelle’s bail was set at $25,000.

Matlock said deputies with the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office along with officers from the Long Beach Police Department, Raymond Police Department, South Bend Police Department, Shoalwater Bay Tribal Police Department, Department of Corrections, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and troopers with the Washington State Patrol made up the multiagency effort to conduct the service of the warrants.