A Bloomington man riding in the back seat of a car stopped by police early on September 4, 2026, had more than 28 grams of methamphetamine in his pants pocket, according to charges.
Eric Michael Baker, 49, faces two felony charges: first-degree drug sale and second-degree drug possession.
According to the complaint, officers with the Bloomington Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the city at about 3:30 a.m. Upon approaching the vehicle, officers noticed the driver exhibiting signs of being under the influence of a controlled substance, including rapid speech and visible shaking. A canine unit alerted officers to the presence of controlled substances in the rear passenger compartment of the vehicle.
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During a search of the vehicle, officers found a small amount of crystalline substance identified as methamphetamine. They then searched Baker, who was the only rear passenger, and discovered three plastic bags containing a total of 28.17 grams of methamphetamine in his front pants pocket. Additionally, officers found $450 in cash in Baker’s wallet.
Baker received numerous calls on his cell phone throughout the traffic stop, the complaint says.
The complaint says the amount of methamphetamine, its division into multiple packages, the cash and the calls at about 4 a.m. are all indicative of an intent to sell.
The charges were filed on October 1, 2026. Baker is scheduled to appear in court on October 20, 2026. If convicted of the first-degree drug sale charge, he faces a maximum penalty of up to 30 years in prison.
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Jurisdictional Context
Hennepin County is Minnesota’s most populous jurisdiction. The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office handles felony prosecutions across Minneapolis and 44 other cities; the Fourth Judicial District presides over felony arraignments and trials at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.
