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COURTLAND -- An early morning March 10 traffic stop in Courtland by Nicollet County Sheriff's Office deputies led to multiple drug and theft charges against two men and a woman.
Deja D. Padilla, 18, Montevideo, was charged with felony fifth-degree drug possession-not small amount of marijuana and felony possession of burglary or theft tools on March 11 in Brown County District Court. An initial court appearance was set for 8:30 a.m. March 23.
McKenzie M. Notch, 26, Granite Falls, was charged with felony second-degree drug sale 10 grams or more, a narcotic other than heroin within 90 days, third-degree drug possession 10 grams or more, fourth-degree drug sale and felony possession of burglary or theft tools. Bail was set at $40,000 without conditions, $15,000 with conditions in Nicollet County Court March 12.
Ryan G. Luckhardt, 36, Hutchinson, was charged with felony possession of burglary or theft tools and petty misdemeanor small amount of marijuana possession in Nicollet County Court March 12. Bail was set at $40,000 without conditions, $15,000 with conditions.
According to court documents, Nicollet County Sheriff's Office Deputies Alex Nelson and Paul Biederman were parked in squad cars in Courtland at about 2:25 a.m. when they saw a vehicle turn off of Highway 14, head south onto Zieske Road, travel out of sight, then return past Deputy Nelson and return to Highway 14.
Following the vehicle, a license plate check showed it was a silver 2006 Chrysler Sebring that was stopped a few hours earlier and driver McKenzie Notch was cited for driving after revocation. Notch and a passenger, Deja Padilla earlier told Deputy Nelson they were staying at a New Ulm hotel after shopping in Mankato.
Nelson found it suspicious the vehicle was back in the area. The suspect car pulled into a Sunrise Drive residence. Nelson parked behind the vehicle and recognized Notch as the driver he earlier cited for driving after revocation. Nelson noticed the car passenger was not Padilla, but a man later identified as Luckhardt.
Notch gave Nelson several contradictory and unlikely stories.
Nelson ran Luckhardt's identification and learned he was on probation for fifth-degree controlled substance possession. In addition, his stories were not consistent with Notch's.
Talking with Luckhardt, Nelson saw marijuana residue on Luckhardt's lap. He admitted to marijuana possession. It was weighed at 1.6 grams.
A vehicle search revealed multiple backpacks on the backseat. In one, Nelson found a reciprocating saw, blades and batteries for a saw, pliers, a screw driver, dark stocking cap, and binoculars. Nelson noticed Notch and Luckhardt's hands and clothing were stained with grease.
A vehicle trunk search turned up about a dozen catalytic converters, all of which had rough cuts on the ends, plus a small hydraulic floor jack, tire irons, a hack saw and other hand tools.
Another backpack contained methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, many small plastic bags, and a digital scale with white residue, consistent with drug sales.
Nelson also found two cell phones belonging to Notch. He was arrested and transported to the Nicollet County Jail.
A total of 18.55 grams of a white, crystal-like substance tested positive for methamphetamine.
Brown County Sheriff's Office Investigator Jeff Hohensee learned of the traffic stop and seizure before going to the New Ulm Econo Lodge to interview Padilla. She was walking away from a nearby room with two suitcases/duffle bags and a purse.
Items removed from her purse included a baggie of meth, a homemade meth pipe and two used needles. A DeWalt drill and charger, two three-inch coarse wire cut brushes and two cellphones were found in the bags Padilla was carrying.
(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nu
journal.com).