A woman was found asleep in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle outside a Blaine grocery store late at night, surrounded by bags containing suspected methamphetamine, prosecutors say.
Lynn Marie Abernathy, 44, of Mounds View faces charges of first-degree drug possession and driving while impaired by a controlled substance.
On April 30, 2026, at about 11:26 p.m., Blaine police responded to a report of a woman slumped over in the driver’s seat of a vehicle parked at Cub Foods in Anoka County. Officers arrived and found the woman, later identified as Lynn Marie Abernathy, asleep in the running vehicle. Officers observed two small plastic bags with white powder residue and a lighter on the driver’s door handle near Abernathy.
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According to the complaint, officers attempted to wake Abernathy. When she woke up, she displayed exaggerated motor movements, spoke very rapidly and had slurred speech. Abernathy told officers she was waiting for a friend and had fallen asleep. She admitted to smoking methamphetamine earlier in the day but said she did not think she was still high.
Abernathy told officers she uses methamphetamine a few times per week and estimated using about 0.14 grams earlier that day. She also said she had recently purchased two 1/8-ounce bags of methamphetamine for $100 earlier that week.
Officers conducted field-sobriety tests, which showed clear signs of impairment. Abernathy was arrested at the scene. Officers searched her vehicle and found a pink duffle bag behind the driver’s seat and a sling bag on the passenger seat. Numerous bags containing suspected narcotics were found inside those bags and throughout the vehicle. All items were submitted to the Midwest Regional Laboratory for testing.
Lab results showed that 18 items submitted from the vehicle contained a total of 84.841 grams of methamphetamine. Officers also obtained a urine sample from Abernathy at 12:50 a.m. pursuant to a search warrant. Testing by the Minnesota BCA confirmed the presence of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.
The charges against Abernathy include first-degree drug possession for possessing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and driving while impaired by a Schedule I or II controlled substance.
The complaint does not reference any prior criminal history for Abernathy. The charges were filed September 8, 2026, in Anoka County District Court.
About This Charge
Minnesota’s controlled-substance statutes are organized in five degrees under § 152.021 through § 152.025. First-degree possession or sale carries up to 30 years in prison and a mandatory minimum sentence depending on quantity. Fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin are all Schedule I or II controlled substances triggering the highest-degree statutes.
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Jurisdictional Context
Anoka County, north of the Twin Cities, is served by the Anoka County Attorney’s Office through the Tenth Judicial District. The Anoka County Courthouse in Anoka hears felony matters; the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office operates the Anoka County Jail.
