A Chicago man is facing multiple felony drug and firearms charges after Bloomington police found large quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl along with a stolen handgun during a search warrant at a Crystal apartment.
Diquan Wooten, 31, faces charges of aggravated first-degree controlled substance crime with a firearm, two counts of first-degree drug sales and felon in possession of a firearm.
According to the criminal complaint, Bloomington police executed a search warrant last Tuesday at an apartment on the 7200 block of 36th Avenue North in Crystal. Officers were acting on information about narcotics distribution by someone associated with the apartment.
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As officers approached, a tactical support unit saw Wooten stick his body out of the door while holding what appeared to be a black handgun. The officer saw Wooten make movements suggesting he was trying to hide the weapon, but when Wooten spotted the officers he retreated back inside, the complaint says. Officers breached the apartment and found Wooten as the only occupant. He was taken into custody.
After his arrest, Wooten asked officers to grab his money that was hidden in a pillow on the couch. The cash totaled $1,480. Officers also found his cellphone on the couch and prescription bottles in his name.
A black handgun was recovered from the living room floor. The firearm was confirmed stolen out of Mille Lacs County, according to court records.
In the kitchen, officers found a digital scale with white powder residue and a substantial amount of suspected narcotics in the cupboards. Smaller amounts were found in the living room and entry closet. The drugs were weighed and tested: about eight ounces of methamphetamine, about 2.8 ounces of cocaine and about 1.7 ounces of fentanyl. Officers also found 27 round blue pills, suspected to be fentanyl, imprinted with “M30” and 27 individually packaged fentanyl bindles in a kitchen cabinet. Individual rounds of ammunition and empty magazines were also in the apartment.
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The unit also contained mail, vehicle titles and airport luggage tags bearing the name of another target in the investigation, who wasn’t there at the time.
In an interview, Wooten claimed he was just visiting and then requested a lawyer.
Court records show Wooten has a prior conviction for aggravated battery with a firearm in Cook County, Ill., from 2013, making him ineligible to possess a firearm under Minnesota law.
Wooten was booked into the Hennepin County jail on Tuesday and remains in custody, with bail set at $150,000. The aggravated first-degree controlled substance crime charge carries a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a $1 million fine.
