On Tuesday, April 6th, detectives with the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team were following an individual suspected to be part of an ongoing drug investigation.
With the help of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, a traffic stop was attempted on the suspect, later identified as 60 year old Robert Paul Muniain of Oakdale, California, as he was driving Northbound on I-5 near Myrtle Creek.
Muniain slowed, but refused to stop initially, exiting the freeway in Myrtle Creek. Muniain continued, traveling into the city of Myrtle Creek and as he was crossing the bridge over the South Umpqua River he threw a bag out of the vehicle window into the river below. After throwing the item out the window Muniain complied and stopped the vehicle.
A Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team detective, fearing Muniain had thrown drugs into the river, scrambled down the river bank and saw the bag floating down the river. The detective dove into the water and swam to the bag which was still floating when he got to it, retrieved the bag and continued swimming to the opposite side of the river. The detective emerged very wet and cold, but otherwise uninjured.
The bag contained approximately 472 grams of methamphetamine, which is more than 1 pound. That is a very large amount of methamphetamine which is not a personal use amount. For context, the typical addict would use only approximately one gram per day, on average.
60 year old Robert Paul Muniain was arrested and lodged at the Douglas County Jail on charges of Unlawful Possession and Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine. The investigation is continuing and more charges are pending.
