On March 10, 2023, at approximately 5:00 a.m., patrol officers from the Klamath Falls Police Department (KFPD) responded to the area of Delap Road and Greensprings Drive in Klamath Falls on a report of a welfare check regarding a man passed out in a grey Volvo parked in the middle of the road. When officers arrived on the scene and approached the vehicle, the driver fled the area in the vehicle south on Delap Road at a high rate of speed. Another KFPD patrol officer was traveling north on Delap Road when the grey Volvo attempted to negotiate the curve. Due to the extreme snow and ice conditions, the Volvo was unable to maintain its lane of travel and slid into the northbound lane as the patrol vehicle was traveling north resulting in a collision. The driver of the Volvo and a female passenger exited the vehicle after the crash and fled on foot. The female passenger was located and detained near the crash site, but the driver was able to flee the area. The patrol officer sustained minor injuries because of the motor vehicle crash and was taken to Sky Lakes Medical Center for medical treatment and then released. The investigation was turned over to the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office since one of our officers was involved in the crash.
During the investigation, officers identified the driver as thirty-six (36) year-old Jonathan M. Fraioli, and there was probable cause to believe that the vehicle contained a large amount of suspected drugs. Members of the Basin Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (BINET) were notified to assist in this investigation. With BINET’S assistance, Mr. Fraioli was apprehended by KFPD patrol officers later in the day, and he was taken into custody without further incident. Mr. Fraioli was lodged at the Klamath County Jail for outstanding felony warrants out of Klamath County for Attempt to Elude and Reckless Driving. He was additionally charged with Failure to Perform Duties of a Driver – Felony and Assault on a Public Safety Officer for the motor vehicle crash. Mr. Fraioli also had an additional warrant out of Jackson County for Failure to Appear and was a habitual offender known to elude police.
BINET detectives executed a search warrant on Mr. Fraioli’s vehicle and located 1.8 lbs. of suspected methamphetamine, 5 ounces of suspected fentanyl, 107 suspected fentanyl pills, and 67 Xanax bars. Packaging material commonly used to package illegal narcotics, scales, and a 9mm pistol were also found inside the vehicle. $1300.00 cash was found in Mr. Frailoli’s possession when he was taken into custody. He was additionally charged with Delivery and Possession of Fentanyl (both being a commercial drug offense), Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Manufacturing of a Controlled Substance – Scheduled II Controlled substance.
With the rise of Fentanyl overdoses in our community, it is important to remember how dangerous Fentanyl can be even in the smallest amounts. KFPD and BINET are committed to reducing the exposure of this dangerous drug to our community members to help keep our community safe. If anyone with additional information regarding Mr. Friaoli or any other suspected drug trafficker, you are encouraged to call the Klamath Falls Police Department at 541-883-5336 or our anonymous Tip Line at (541) 883-5334.
