Michele Vlasak of the Sherburne County Sheriff’s Office assisted in a unit‐wide search of inmates and cells at the Sherburne County Jail, located in the City of Elk River, Sherburne County, Minnesota. She learned that jail staff entered the jail cell of JOSEPH CHRISTOPHER MARTELL, [DOB REDACTED], the above‐named defendant, and immediately noticed that he was digging in his boxers and trying to hide something in his hand. The Defendant ignored staff orders to stop and instead took his hand out of his boxers and placed his hand on his mouth.
Staff then noticed a bulge in the Defendant’s lower lip. When asked about it, the Defendant grabbed what was in his mouth and placed it in the toilet, immediately attempting to flush it. Staff were able to retrieve the item before it was flushed and saw that it was a white powdery substance wrapped tightly in two plastic bags. The Defendant admitted that it was his and said it was “medicine.” Inv. Vlasak took control of the item and field tested it. The preliminary test showed that it was cocaine.
It was sent to the Midwest Regional Forensic Laboratory for testing, and the results show that the baggie contained 0.386 grams of buprenorphine, a Schedule III Controlled Substance. Jail records show that the Defendant is not prescribed this medication. 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.
