Woman Held After Allegedly Leaving Meth as Tip
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Clatsop County Sheriff’s Office(SEASIDE, Ore.) — An Oregon woman is being held on a $50,000 bond for allegedly leaving methamphetamine as a tip to a waitress at an upscale, tourist-friendly restaurant.
Erica Manley, 37, was arrested with her boyfriend, Ryan Bensen, 40, last Friday night after a waitress at the Twisted Fish Steakhouse in Seaside, Ore., said she found crystal-like rocks tucked behind a gift card and sealed in an envelope with a question mark on it, according to a news release from the Seaside Sheriff’s Department.
The manager of the Twisted Fish confirmed the incident to ABC News but would not comment further.
Police later determined that the suspect rocks were four doses of methamphetamine, and arrested the couple outside the Twisted Fish, the Seaside chief of police and Clatsop County district attorney told ABC News.
According to a news release from the Seaside Sheriff’s Department, police then searched through the couple’s hotel room and car where they found a blow torch, batteries and hand-warmers, common drug paraphernalia that police said could be used to manufacture the dangerous drug.
Officials said they also found nearly 20 grams of methamphetamine in Manley’s purse, worth about $1,500.
Manley is expected to appear this week before a grand jury, where it is expected she will be formally charged with unlawful manufacture, and possession and delivery of methamphetamine, according to the district attorney.
Bensen has since been released from jail, and authorities said he would face no charges. All efforts by ABC News to reach Bensen proved unsuccessful.
Manley’s defense attorney, Chris Kaino, did not respond to messages left by ABC News requesting comment.
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