A Fairmont man is accused of possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and driving under the influence of a controlled substance after a Nov. 4 traffic stop in rural Faribault County.
The complaint lists two counts. The first is first-degree possession of 50 grams or more of cocaine or methamphetamine, a felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison or a $1,000,000 fine or both. The second is fourth-degree driving while impaired, a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days or a $1,000 fine or both. Both counts list an offense date of Nov. 4.
Jerimiah Jacob Nye Contreras, 45, is charged with both counts in a complaint filed Nov. 5 in Faribault County District Court.
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According to the complaint, a Faribault County sheriff’s deputy stopped a vehicle near Bricelyn on Nov. 4 for expired registration after seeing the driver cross the center line. The complaint says the driver showed several signs of intoxication during field sobriety tests. It says he denied substance use but admitted to using THC and could not say when he last used it. A K9 unit was called to the scene. The deputy asked the passenger, a woman, to step out of the vehicle.
The complaint says the K9 alerted to the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. The woman told the deputy there was a glass pipe in the vehicle, which the deputy found in a brown paper bag on the passenger side. The pipe had residue that appeared to be freshly melted methamphetamine. As the search continued, the woman was seen concealing something in her hand and refusing to hand it over.
The deputy forced open her fist. A crystalline substance fell to the ground. The substance field tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 48.62 grams.
The complaint states the woman was arrested on suspicion of second-degree drug possession. The driver was arrested on suspicion of DWI and second-degree drug possession. During booking at the jail, staff found another plastic bag concealed on the woman. The bag contained a white substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 52.23 grams. The complaint says the State contends the driver and the woman were in joint possession of the methamphetamine.
According to the complaint, the deputy obtained a warrant to collect blood or urine from the driver to test for controlled substances. He provided a urine sample, which was submitted to the BCA for testing. Results are pending.
