Five arrested in area meth bust

Morrison County Sheriff Michel Wetzel announced Friday that a major methamphetamine case had been cracked in the Motley area.

On Wednesday, Morrison and Cass County deputies, along with agents of the Central Minnesota Drug Task Force, executed three search warrants in northern Morrison and southern Cass counties.

Wetzel said the first warrant was executed at a residence on Harrison Street in Motley. At that location, drug paraphernalia, packaging materials, scales and other items were seized.

Deputies arrested a 56-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman, both from Motley. They were transported to the Morrison County Jail and were being held pending formal charges for controlled substance violations.

A second search warrant was executed near Staples in Cass County. At this location, officers seized a small amount of methamphetamine and more than $2,000 in cash.

Arrested at the scene of the second search warrant were a 33-year-old rural Staples woman and a 31-year-old man and a 33-year-old man, both from the state of Washington. All three were transported to the Cass County Jail where they were held pending formal charges for controlled substance violations.

A third search warrant was executed at Steve's Club near Pillager. At this location, officers seized cash and a handgun.

"This has been an ongoing investigation for some time," Wetzel said in a news release. "During the course of the investigation, over 70 grams of methamphetamine had been seized with a street value of nearly $8,000."

Wetzel said this was a significant methamphetamine ring and these five arrests should result in a substantial reduction in the amount of meth available on the streets of northern Morrison and southern Cass counties.

The investigation continues with more searches anticipated.