On January 8, 2026, at approximately 12:47 A.M., Wright County Deputy Preusse was on duty and watching a vehicle that had been parked at the Kwik Trip, 8191 179th Street NW, Clearwater, Wright County, Minnesota. The vehicle was parked in the front row of the store and was occupied for about an hour with no movement. The occupants got out and a male in a red coat threw a Kwik Trip bag into the trash, and the vehicle then left the store. Deputy Preusse followed the vehicle, Minnesota license plate [PLATE REDACTED], and found the vehicle's muffler noise was much louder than the overall road noise.
Deputy Preusse stopped the vehicle on the eastbound I-94 entrance ramp and identified the male driver as James Travis Cole [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter the defendant. While speaking with him, the deputy observed burned tin foil and torch lighters in plain view in the vehicle. Based on his training and experience, Deputy Preusse was aware that these items are commonly used for drug consumption. At this time, Deputy Chamberlain was asked to go back to Kwik Trip and check the same trash can that the defendant threw items into earlier.
Deputy Chamberlain later informed Deputy Preusse that he found a white crystal substance, which later field tested positive for methamphetamine, a black scale, a green soup container, spoons, and crackers. The plastic bag containing these items was found in the trash can on top of everything else that was in there. The bag was clearly the last thing that had been put in the trash. When the defendant was asked what he had thrown away, he stated that he threw away a bag containing a green soup container, crackers, and spoons.
The defendant was arrested and he provided a statement after being given a Miranda warning. The defendant admitted that he brought his girlfriend to pick up the methamphetamine earlier and had the methamphetamine with them all day. The defendant admitted that when he and his girlfriend saw the deputy across the street, they decided to throw the methamphetamine away in the Kwik Trip bag. The defendant stated that if the baggie of methamphetamine was tested, his DNA would be found on the bag. The methamphetamine weighed 4.45 grams and was later sent to the Midwest Regional Forensics lab for testing.
