On December 20, 2025, at approximately 0118 hours, Washington County Sheriff's Deputy Moore was patrolling Newport, Washington County, Minnesota when he observed a Subaru Outback driving on 10th Avenue that did not have an operable license plate. Deputy Moore conducted a traffic stop southbound on Highway 61, just south of 70th Street South. He approached the vehicle and identified the driver as MELANIE ANN KAYE [DOB REDACTED]. The passenger in the vehicle was identified as PATRICK LEE SCHMIDT [DOB REDACTED]. Kaye gave a statement about where they were coming from that was inconsistent with what deputies had observed when they first observed the vehicle.
As he was talking to both parties, he saw a satchel in the backseat with a cloudy, plastic bag protruding from it. It appeared that there may be residue inside. Based on Deputy Moore's training and experience, he knew that drugs were often kept and transported in similar looking bags. He asked Kaye what was in the bag and she said the bag was hers, but she was "not sure" of what was in it. Deputy Moore noticed that, while she was answering this question, Kaye was looking down, moving her hands frequently and that her response was quiet and shaky.
Kaye was asked to step out of the vehicle and she complied. She spoke to Deputy Hintz by his squad car. When questioned further, Kaye eventually admitted that there was fentanyl in the plastic baggie and that it belonged to her. Schmidt was also removed from the vehicle and was detained. The vehicle was searched, and deputies recovered the backpack that belonged to Kaye. They confirmed that the plastic baggie inside Kaye's backpack contained a substance that later tested positive for fentanyl and weighed.5 grams.
Schmidt's person and belongings were also searched, and deputies found a substance in his backpack that tested positive for fentanyl and weighed.7 grams.
