A Frazee man made his first appearance Wednesday in Becker County District Court on a felony charge of drug possession, as well as misdemeanor charges of trespassing and theft.
Donald Arthur Merrill, 39, of 30397 Highway 10, Lot 2, Frazee, was charged as a result of a Monday incident at Wal-Mart in Detroit Lakes. Merrill, who had been served with a no trespassing order by Wal-Mart in April, was spotted at the store twice on Monday, at 1:32 and 4:05 p.m.
After the second incident, the store contacted the Detroit Lakes police, who sent an officer to the store. The officer spotted Merrill leaving the store, and caught up to him, proceeding to take him into custody for trespassing.
During a pat down search, the officer found two printer ink cartridges in Merrill's possession. The cartridges, valued at $49, had been unwrapped. While being transported to the jail on trespassing and shoplifting charges, Merrill was found in possession of a single pill of Oxycontin; he said that while he had once had a prescription for the drug, it had expired.
Merrill's bail was set by District Court Judge Joseph Evans at $10,000 with conditions, or $20,000 without. He remains in custody pending his next court appearance at a Nov. 15 omnibus hearing.
