Menahga man held after meth bust

MENAHGA -- A 42-year-old Menahga man was arrested on criminal charges Thursday, including conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.

Wadena and Hubbard county sheriff's deputies arrested Randy Donald Reed after a search warrant executed at Reed's rural Menahga residence led them to find substances believed to be methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana. Deputies also seized several firearms and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Authorities were alerted to Reed after it was reported he hadn't returned a skid steer loader he rented at a Hubbard County business.

Deputies from both counties recovered the loader, as well as a stolen all-terrain vehicle. Deputies also found a 1,000-gallon anhydrous tank and trailer that had been stolen from a Wadena area business recently.

Reed was arrested without incident at his home. He was charged in Hubbard County District Court with felony theft. His bail was set at $20,000.

Wadena County Sheriff Michael Carr said Reed is also expected to be charged in Wadena County District Court with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and possession of anhydrous ammonia, all felonies.

Reed is being held in the Hubbard County Jail.

The DNR, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the West Central Drug Task Force assisted the Wadena and Hubbard county sheriff's departments.