A man in Minneapolis is accused of selling fentanyl in two separate hand-to-hand transactions captured on surveillance cameras, then running from officers before being arrested, according to the complaint.
Jeron Rashad Lee Thomas, 21, is charged in Hennepin County District Court with second-degree drug sale and fleeing a peace officer by a means other than a motor vehicle. The charges were filed October 30.
According to the complaint, at about 2 p.m. on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Minneapolis police watching Milestone cameras saw Thomas make two different hand-to-hand transactions near Lake Street and Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis. The complaint says the footage showed him wearing a red jacket, black jeans, white Nike shoes and a black beanie.
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The complaint says surveillance footage showed Thomas walking with a woman, pulling a clear plastic baggie from his waistband. The woman looked at the bag, then removed cash from her pocket. Thomas handed her the baggie containing a white-looking item suspected to be narcotics and the woman gave him the cash. Both appeared to be concealing their actions and quickly left the area.
Police called for backup to arrest Thomas at Lake Street and Nicollet Avenue, the complaint says. When officers told him he was under arrest, Thomas began to walk backwards, then turned and ran toward a shopping center lot. Officers yelled for him to stop, but he did not comply. After a struggle, Thomas was placed under arrest and searched.
During the search, officers found three separate baggies of a white powdery substance in Thomas’ waistband and another baggie in his right jacket pocket. Officers also found $50 in various bills. Field tests on the baggies were positive for fentanyl. The complaint details the weights as 3.3 grams, 0.6 grams and 0.9 grams. The baggies will be sent to the BCA for confirmatory testing.
After the arrest, officers reviewed surveillance footage again and saw Thomas conducting an earlier hand-to-hand transaction with a man. Thomas was observed using a small silver spoon to scoop powder from a baggie into the man’s hands, then taking cash from the buyer.
Thomas is charged with second-degree drug sale for allegedly selling three grams or more of fentanyl and with fleeing a peace officer by a means other than a motor vehicle.
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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.
