On April 25, 2025, officer Huddleson of the Coon Rapids Police Department stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation near University Avenue NW and Highway 610 NW in Coon Rapids, Anoka County. The driver was identified as Cortney John Edstrom [DOB REDACTED], Defendant Edstrom hereinafter. The front seat passenger was identified as Sara Jean Griffin [DOB REDACTED], Defendant Griffin hereinafter. The occupants had just left a known narcotics house. Defendant Edstrom was found to have a warrant and was arrested.
After speaking with Defendant Griffin, a K9 was called to the stop to conduct a sniff for narcotics. The K9 alerted to the presence of controlled substances. Defendant Edstrom was informed that a search of the car would be conducted. In response, Defendant Edstrom stated that "there are no narcotics in the car", law enforcement found the emphasis of "in the car" to be suspicious. A search of the vehicle was completed. During the search, Defendant Griffin informed law enforcement that during the stop, Defendant Edstrom handed Defendant Griffin a bag with methamphetamine in it to put in her pants.
There was also a small container with suspected methamphetamine in a purse in the vehicle. Defendant Edstrom did not take ownership of the bag given to Defendant Griffin but was adamant that the bag contained only MSM and not narcotics. Defendant Griffin in a post Miranda statement said that she went into the prior residence with Defendant Edstrom. While inside, Defendant Edstrom was instructed by others that they had something for him. Defendant Griffin also said she was instructed by Defendant Edstrom to delete all of the information on his phone during the traffic stop.
Due to Defendant Edstrom's stop at the house, statements made there, his assurance that he knew the contents of the bag in Defendant Griffin's possession, and his request to have his phone wiped. Law enforcement believed that he did in fact possess the bag of suspected methamphetamine prior to the stop. Both suspected narcotics were sent to the Midwest Regional Forensic Laboratory. The substance in the bag was positive for methamphetamine and weighed 14 grams. The substance in the purse was positive for methamphetamine weighing.927 grams.
