Bass Canyon death leads to arrest of suspected drug dealer

Detectives say an undercover buy helped crack the case behind the Bass Canyon death, resulting in multiple drug charges against a 28-year-old Seattle man.

A Seattle man is facing multiple drug charges after investigators linked him to a fatal overdose at this past weekend’s Bass Canyon music festival at the Gorge Amphitheatre. Quincy R. Travers, 28, was taken into custody Sunday night following an investigation into the death of a 27-year-old Olympia man who died at the festival’s on-site medical facility.

According to the Grant County Sheriff’s Office, the victim fell ill and died shortly after using drugs he had bought from another attendee. The case was picked up by detectives with the Grant County Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (INET), who began digging into the circumstances of the death soon after it was reported.

Interviews with the victim’s friends helped investigators zero in on Travers as the alleged source of the drugs. To make the arrest, authorities set up an undercover buy, with detectives purchasing suspected narcotics directly from Travers before taking him into custody. A search turned up MDMA, cocaine and ketamine in his possession, officials said.

Travers was booked into jail on one count of delivery of a controlled substance and three counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Investigators are now pursuing the case as a suspected controlled substance homicide, a charge that treats a fatal overdose as a homicide when it can be tied to a specific dealer.

The DEA, Homeland Security Investigations and the Washington State Patrol assisted in the broader investigation, according to the sheriff’s office, which has previously flagged what it describes as a persistent illegal drug culture surrounding the Bass Canyon electronic dance music festival.

The Grant County Coroner’s Office said it expects to finish an autopsy on the Olympia man later this week, which could provide further detail on the cause of death and confirm what substances were involved.

The arrest adds to a difficult weekend for organizers and law enforcement at the Gorge, which draws tens of thousands of fans to the rural venue each year for the multi-day electronic music event.

Featured image credit: Bass Canyon/Press

About The Author

Ashley Palya

I’ve been writing, covering events, and doing interviews with Exron for nearly four years, but have been an EDM-lover for over a decade. The music community and industry has a special place in my heart and I love exploring the depths. EDC Las Vegas is my favorite festival and this year will be my sixth time attending. Some other recent festivals I’ve been are Ultra, Elements, Lost Lands, Electric Forest, and Arc. I’ve been getting more into experimental bass, but techno and house will always have my heart. <3

See author's posts