Narcotics Unit Serves Warrant on Downtown Drug Dealers

On Friday, May 30, 2025 at about 9:30 a.m., NOC began serving a search warrant at an apartment in the 1400 block of Southwest 12^th Avenue. Due to information that there was at least one gun in the apartment, the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) and the Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) assisted, including the use of armor for the safety of the officers and the community. SERT did have to breach a door which created some noise, as well as some broken glass, and the community heard police announcements over a public address system ordering the apartment residents out.

Two men inside the apartment were arrested. The search yielded a revolver, body armor, and about 85 grams of methamphetamine, all of which were seized as evidence.

Uriel Aceves-Leos, 30, of Portland, was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (MCDC) on charges of Distribution of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm.

Verdell Center, 29, was booked into MCDC on charges of Distribution of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine, Possession of a Controlled Substance-Methamphetamine, and Felon in Possession of Body Armor.

These warrants were the result of an investigation initiated during a Service Coordination Team Proactive Patrol mission. During that mission, officers obtained actionable intelligence identifying an individual involved in narcotics trafficking and the possession of illegal firearms. The investigation was a collaboration between NOC, Central Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) and Central Bike Squad.

If anyone has information about this case or crimes committed by these suspects, please e-mail crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov attn: NOC and reference case number 25-130095.

The Service Coordination Team (SCT), a program within PPB's Behavioral Health Unit, is a crime reduction program for the City of Portland, managed by the Portland Police Bureau. SCT is responsible for coordinating law enforcement, criminal justice, supportive housing and treatment resources for individuals who are chronically arrested in order to improve public safety, reinforce community livability, and increase quality of life by breaking the cycle of addiction and criminality.

SCT offers access to treatment, housing, and wrap-around services as an alternative to continued criminality and incarceration to reduce the incidence of drug-related property crimes, stop the cycle of criminality, maximize public resources, and increase outcomes by coordinating services.

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