DRUGS

Though the pardons are expected to affect nearly 6,600 people, data from the United States Sentencing Commission indicates only three Minnesotans are eligible to receive a pardon.

The report from Millennium Health analyzed urine samples from substance use disorder treatment testing in the first half of 2022. St. Louis County has seen a 2,500% increase in fentanyl positivity in 2022 compared to 2019.

The settlement with Johnson & Johnson, and other opioid distributors, will bring more than $300 million into Minnesota to fight the opioid crisis – 75 percent of which will go directly to local communities to support treatment, prevention, recovery, harm reduction, and other strategies to address the opioid epidemic, said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

In three of the four separate incidents, multiple doses of Narcan needed to be administered to the overdosing victims. Only one overdose victim agreed to be transported to a nearby medical clinic.

The trooper could smell the odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle, and Skauge was fidgety and restless. He admitted to using methamphetamine in the past, and that he typically smokes or snorts it, according to court records.

The investigator went to the mobile home that the suspect had listed as his address, near the intersection of Bear Clan Drive and County Road 34 in White Earth. He found there was no blue number (911 address) or mailbox. The mobile home was abandoned and not livable. There were holes in the walls and floor, according to court records.

The suspect accelerated southbound and a short time later, turned onto a Vergas Trails gravel road. He then rolled his black Ford Ranger a short time later. The suspect was not injured and was arrested. He told the trooper he knew he had expired registration and that he had a warrant, according to court documents.

Law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at the suspect's residence in Detroit Lakes. She was home at the time and said she was the only person living there. Law enforcement found over 4.4 pounds of marijuana and over 500 grams of marijuana wax throughout the residence, according to court records

When asked about a metal tin can in the cup holder, the suspect moved it, which caused a baggy of methamphetamine to fall. When asked about drug use, he admitted to using two or three days ago. A search of the vehicle turned up 0.66 grams of cocaine and 0.75 grams of meth. Another 2.56 grams of cocaine was found on the suspect during a search at the jail, according to court records.