On June 13, 2025, officers with the Central Minnesota Violent Offender Task Force, herein VOTF, met with CI 25-19, hereinafter CI, who is fully identified to the officers. On this date, CI made arrangements to purchase controlled substances from an individual later identified as LINDA ANN MERRITT, [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein. VOTF officers searched CI and CI's vehicle and did not find controlled substances or U. S. Currency. Officers then provided CI with a sum of pre-recorded U. S. Currency along with an electronic surveillance device.
VOTF surveilled CI as they traveled to a location in the city of St. Cloud, county of Stearns, state of Minnesota. At that location, CI met with the defendant. CI tendered to the defendant the U. S. Currency and in exchange received a bag of purported methamphetamine. Subsequently, the substance was turned over to VOTF officers by CI. VOTF officers then searched CI and CI's vehicle and did not find controlled substances or currency. The suspected methamphetamine was sent to the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, herein BCA, for weighing and testing.
On August 18, 2025, the BCA issued a report on its testing of the purported methamphetamine. The BCA determined that the substance contained methamphetamine and weighed 55.426 grams. Methamphetamine is a schedule II controlled substance. On July 11, 2025, VOTF officers again met with CI. CI called the defendant and the defendant agreed to sell CI approximately 56 grams of methamphetamine. The defendant subsequently spoke with CI and stated that she would be unable to meet with CI, but that her roommate, A.M. O. (an adult female fully identified in the police reports), would provide CI with the methamphetamine.
VOTF officers searched CI and CI's vehicle and did not find controlled substances or U. S. Currency. Officers then provided CI with a sum of pre-recorded U. S. Currency along with an electronic surveillance device. VOTF surveilled CI as they traveled to a location in the city of St. Cloud, county of Stearns, state of Minnesota. At that location, CI met with A.M. O. CI tendered to A.M. O. The U. S. Currency and in exchange received a bag of purported methamphetamine. During the transaction, CI observed the defendant communicate with A.M. O. Over the phone about the sale.
After CI left the location, VOTF officers observed the defendant arrive at the location shortly thereafter. CI provided the purported methamphetamine to VOTF officers. VOTF officers then searched CI and CI's vehicle and did not find controlled substances or currency. The suspected methamphetamine was sent to the BCA for weighing and testing. On August 25, 2025, the BCA issued a report on its testing of the purported methamphetamine. The BCA determined that the substance contained methamphetamine and weighed 55.592 grams.
