NEW ULM — A 40-year-old New Ulm man and a 36-year-old New Ulm woman face felony charges of storing meth paraphernalia in the presence of a child after the Brown-Lyon-Redwood-Renville County Drug Task Force (BLRR-DTF) used a tactical ram to enter a downtown residence last weekend.

Matthew S. Wetzel, 100 S. Minnesota St., was also charged March 13 with felony 5th-degree drug possession-not small amount of marijuana and misdemeanor possession of hypodermic syringes or needles. Heather M. Scharbach, same address, was also charged with gross misdemeanor 5th degree drug possession-not small amount of marijuana and misdemeanor possession of syringes/needles in Brown County District Court.

According to court documents, New Ulm Police and BLRR-DTF agents executed a search warrant at 100 S. Minnesota St. March 12, aware that two children under age 12 lived at the residence. Police tried to open the residence door but found it was locked, so agents used a tactical ram to grain entry and search the residence.

Wetzel was found in the bathroom were a glass methamphetamine pipe and black torch lighter was found in the toilet. A broken meth pipe and child’s cartoon program were found on or near the television.

Another meth pipe and a trace amount of a white powdery substance that field-tested positive for meth were found in the bedroom. Other items collected included a cigarette box with a syringe inside.

Wetzel was convicted of 5th-degree controlled substance sale April 5, 2010, in Brown County Court. The couple remains in custody at the Brown County Jail.