Douglas County SWAT Busts East Wenatchee Meth Lab, First In Years Sheriff Says
On Friday, the Douglas County Special Response Team, along with the Columbia River Drug Task Force and members of the Chelan County Regional SWAT team, served a high-risk search warrant in the 2000 block of S.E. Legacy Place in East Wenatchee.
The team recovered illegal narcotics, parts of a meth lab and a 9mm handgun with the serial numbers ground off. The state department of Ecology was called to clean and dispose of the meth lab.
As a result of the investigation, 33-year-old Michael C. Cooper of East Wenatchee was arrested and booked into Chelan County Regional Jail for two counts of Unlawful Delivery of a controlled substance (methamphetamines), Unlawful possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamines), Felon in possession of a firearm and Possession of a firearm with an altered serial number.
Douglas County Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal joins Dan Langager on the KOHO Morning Show to talk about the bust and drug issues in the region, including opioids, as well as increasing staffing levels in northern parts of the county.
He is innocent.
Michael Cooper is obviously innocent of these charges. He is a pillar of the community of East Wenatchee. He has constantly been falsely accused and misunderstood throughout his life. I first had the pleasure of making Mr. Cooper’s acquaintance after witnessing him save a pregnant mother from a burning trailer home. However he did not seek the spotlight and told me he didn’t want to become known and praised as a hero in light of another human’s tragedy. Most people in a similar situation would spout their heroics to news reporters or anyone standing near. But not Mr. Cooper, a true representation of God’s creation of Man. For we are here not to be selfish but to help fellow human’s in need. For as long as I have known Mr. Cooper he has given all of himself to help those around him. If asked for the shirt off his back he would give it without a second’s thought and in the same motion be reaching for his wallet. He would not need to count how much he hadd for he would most surely give all that he had in his wallet to the person in need. I hope Mr. Cooper’s innocence is proven in court for he is the most noblest of men.