On October 8, 2024, at approximately 12:46 AM, Deputy Brett Turbeville of the Chisago County Sheriff's Office was on patrol in the area of West 4th Street and South Oneill Avenue in Rush City, Chisago County, Minnesota, when he observed a vehicle approach where he was stationed. Deputy Turbeville was parked in a small, abandoned lot. The vehicle signaled a right turn, drove over the fog line, and began to turn into the area where the deputy was parked, before jerking the vehicle back into the lane of traffic.
Deputy Turbeville began following the vehicle and it shortly thereafter turned into a Kwik Trip gas station. The vehicle later left the Kwik Trip and a traffic stop was performed shortly thereafter on the onramp to I-35. Deputy Turbeville identified the driver as ADAM THADDEUS LEIGH ([DOB redacted]), Defendant herein. There was also a female passenger. Defendant stated that his license was invalid and that the vehicle did not have insurance. Deputy Turbeville checked Defendant's license status and confirmed he was revoked.
The passenger was asked if she had a valid license and she said she did not. The vehicle was parked partially on the fog line on an onramp to the highway. During a discussion about towing the vehicle, Deputy Turbeville asked if there was anything illegal in it. Defendant said that there was a small amount of marijuana in the vehicle in a ziplock bag. He stated it was in the center console or glove box. Prior to Deputy Turbeville searching the vehicle, Defendant requested a cigarette. He told Deputy Turbeville that his cigarettes were in the vehicle in the center thing, not the cupholder, but the tray.
While trying to describe where they were, he gestured to the right of his right leg. Deputy Turbeville searched the vehicle. In a side compartment to the center console, an area that would be just to the right of the driver's leg, Deputy Turbeville discovered a pack of cigarettes, a couple of phones, and a hypodermic needle loaded with a brown liquid he believed consistent with controlled substances. The needle was approximately one third full. The substance was later sent to the BCA for analysis.
On July 22, 2025, the BCA issued a report indicating that the substance contained methamphetamine and weighed.085 grams. According to the BCA scientist, the liquid in the sample had evaporated by the time the sample was analyzed, thus leaving only the remaining solids for analysis, not the entire mixture as was present at the time of the offense. Defendant has a prior felony 5th Degree Drug conviction from September 21, 2016 in court file 70-CR-16- 5018, and another from January 21, 2016 in court file 82-CR-13-2075.
