A Medford man was arrested Wednesday on numerous drug charges after police found heroin, methamphetamine and two bottles of steroids in his home.
Jeffrey Dennis Rupert, 54, of Medford, was lodged in the Jackson County Jail on charges of delivery, manufacture, and possession of methamphetamine and heroin, unlawful possession of steroids and on two municipal court warrants related to a theft case. His bail was set at $112,000.
The Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement team served a search warrant at Rupert's home in the 300 block of East 12th Street Wednesday. Investigators found 4 grams of heroin, more than 3 grams of methamphetamine, packaging, scales and $330 in cash, police said. They also recovered two bottles containing steroids with the marking "Superior Labs."
In early February, Medford police arrested a suspected dealer using that name on homemade labels on illegal steroids and drugs that treat male sexual dysfunction. Rafael Rene Fernandez, 39, was arrested Feb. 6 at his home in the 2500 block of Cedar Links Drive, where police found 18,000 doses of liquid anabolic steroids, 250 doses of Viagra, 1.8 pounds of a white powder believed to be Viagra and Cialis, sales records and more than $15,000 in cash.
Police called that case one of the largest steroid cases in the Medford Police Department's history. "The bottles were very similar, so we're going to look into the possibility they could be tied," said Lt. Brett Johnson of MADGE. "It's likely these bottles came from him or somebody in between him."
Police believe a majority of Fernandez's sales were outside Jackson County.
"I think there were probably some local sales as well," Johnson said.
Investigators added there was not enough evidence to conclude that Rupert was manufacturing the steroids. Distribution and manufacture of the substances, which require a prescription to get legally, is a felony, while possessing them is a misdemeanor, police said.
