In January 2026, Richfield Police Department's Special Investigations Unit received information from a confidential informant (Cl) that a male by the name of "Eric" (aka “Taco”) was selling narcotics. Police later identified “Eric” as Eric Gilbert CHENAULT ([DOB REDACTED]). The Cl provided police CHENAULT's first name, physical description, a description of two vehicles that CHENAULT drove, and said CHENAULT owned a moving company. Police verified that the phone number provided by the CI belonged to CHENAULT, verified CHENAULT’s ownership of the described vehicles, and identified CHENAULT’s moving company.
After conducting surveillances, among other things, police obtained a search warrant for an Ion swab of the door handle of CHENAULT’s vehicle. The swab came back positive for cocaine. Police then obtained a search warrant for CHENAULT’s residence at [ADDRESS REDACTED], [APT REDACTED], in St. Paul, Ramsey County, which was signed on 03/06/2026 by the Honorable Ramsey County Judge Der Yang. On 03/10/2026, police went to [ADDRESS REDACTED] and spotted CHENAULT exiting the apartment. CHENAULT was detained and police executed the search warrant for his apartment.
During the search, police found a digital scale with white powder residue, suspected cocaine wrapped in plastic, and a.22 caliber Raven Arms handgun with 4 rounds in a magazine. The suspected cocaine later tested positive for cocaine with a net weight of 8.8 grams. During a post-Miranda interview, CHENAULT admitted possessing the drugs and possessing the firearm that police recovered from his apartment. He said the drugs were for personal use and the firearm was given to him by a cousin from Tennessee.
CHENAULT's prior felony criminal conviction history, including convictions for Kidnapping (19-K9-92- 002246) and 1st Degree Drugs (19-K4-02-000729), makes him ineligible to possess firearms and/or ammunition.
