On August 4, 2025, Otter Tail County Sheriff's Deputy Mike Wing was on patrol on US Highway 10 in Otter Tail County. He observed a vehicle being driven by Larry McClendon Jr. That was under investigation by the West Central Minnesota Drug and Violent Crime Task Force for immediately preceding involvement with controlled substance purchases. Deputy Wing was following the vehicle, and he observed the vehicle cross over the fog line, follow the vehicle in front of him at a distance less than a car length, and observed a crack in the windshield that appeared to obstructive to the driver's view.
Deputy Wing initiated a traffic stop and confirmed McClendon as the driver and the passenger as Ashley Jade Hesse-Hamilton, [DOB REDACTED], the Defendant herein. Deputy Wing questioned McClendon about where he had been coming from and if there were controlled substances in the vehicle and he responded, "I don't think so." Deputy Wing then spoke to Defendant who provided different information about where they had been coming from. Deputy Wing had the parties exit the vehicle and he conducted a search.
In the center console he located a large package of unused micro-baggies. In between the driver's seat and center console, there was a zip lock bag containing a crystalline substance consistent with methamphetamine. In the backseat were additional micro-baggies and a backpack. Inside the backpack there was numerous items of drug paraphernalia including additional micro-baggies and a digital scale, and a micro-baggie containing a crystalline substance consistent with methamphetamine. Inside the passenger side door where Defendant had been seated was a micro-baggie containing a crystalline substance consistent with methamphetamine.
On the Defendant's person, Deputy Wing located $745 in cash. The serial numbers from the cash were consistent with the pre-recorded buy money that had been given to a CRI to purchase the methamphetamine from a third party. Deputy Wing spoke to McClendon about the substance located in the vehicle and Defendant stated that he had purchased it for himself and the Defendant. The bags each field tested positive for methamphetamine. The bag between the driver's seat and center console had a net weight of 2.2 grams; the bag in the backpack had a net weight of 2.2 grams; and the bag in the passenger side door had a net weight of 1.4 grams.
The Defendant's criminal history includes but is not limited to: Controlled Substance Crime in the Fifth Degree in Crow Wing County Court File No. ••-CR-••-••••. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 609.49., intentional failure to appear for duly scheduled court appearances may result in additional criminal charges, and in addition to any arrest warrant that may otherwise be issued by the Court.
