On October 4, 2023, Oregon State Police detectives assisted the Connecticut State Police with locating and apprehending a murder suspect in Josephine County. Christopher Suarez (31) was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a nationwide warrant for murder related to a Connecticut shooting that occurred in February of 2023. During the investigation, it was determined Suarez was associated with an illegal marijuana grow in the Merlin area. A search warrant was served on the illegal marijuana grow with assistance from the Josephine County Sheriff’s Office and Josephine County District Attorney’s Office. During the execution of the search warrant, four greenhouses and 796 marijuana plants were located and destroyed. Additionally, six grams of cocaine, three packages of methamphetamine, and unidentified orange pills were located and seized. Further information is not available for release at this time due to the on-going investigation.
