On June 28, 2018, at around 5:30 a.m., detectives with the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team (OPNET) and members of the Washington State Patrol Special Weapons and Tactics team (WSP SWAT) arrested 28-year-old Forks resident Tommy Lee Cook Jr. The arrest occurred at Cook Jr’s residence, a recreational vehicle parked in the 800 block of G St. in Forks.
Cook Jr. was taken into custody without incident after surrendering to the SWAT Team. Cook’s arrest was based on probable cause that OPNET developed that Cook Jr. had been selling heroin for cash or trading it for benzodiazepines. OPNET also developed probable cause that some of these transactions occurred at Cook Jr’s residence which is located within 1000 feet of a school bus route stop. Benzodiazepines, also known as “Benzos,” are a class of tranquilizer that includes Valium, Klonopin, and Xanax.
After Cook was taken into custody, OPNET detectives served a search warrant at Cook Jr’s RV. The search yielded 1 semi-automatic pistol and digital scales. While serving the search warrant, OPNET developed enough probable cause to obtain a search warrant for the house where Cook’s RV was parked.
The house is the residence of Cook JR’s father, 57-year-old Tommy Lee Cook Sr. During the search of the house, detectives discovered approximately 62 grams of suspected heroin and $2,750 in cash in a closet. Suspected heroin and digital scales were also discovered. Heroin in the Forks area costs about $200 a gram.
Tommy Cook Jr. was booked into the Clallam County Jail for two counts of delivery of a controlled substance (heroin), two counts of delivery of a controlled substance within 1000 feet of a designated school bus stop, and unlawful possession of a firearm 2nd degree
Tommy Cook Sr. was booked into the Clallam County Jail of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver within 1000 feet of a designated school bus stop.
Tommy Cook Sr. maintained that he was not guilty and on 11-27-2018 had a jury trial. Cook Sr. claimed in court that he was only a heroin addict and not a dealer, even though he admitted to detectives that he used to sell a lot of heroin but doesn’t sell as much as he used to. Cook Sr. claimed that the 62 grams of heroin that detectives found was not his, but his son’s. The trial concluded on 11-28-2018 and the jury found Cook Sr. guilty for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver. His sentencing will take place Dec. 11 at 9 a.m.
Cook Jr. still awaits trial, which is now set for January 28, 2019.
