NEW ULM — Two New Ulm men face multiple felony charges after an April 1 traffic stop on North Broadway led to the discovery of methamphetamine, Kamagra, a Viagra-like substance, in a wooden toy figurine.

Charges including three counts of felony 3rd-degree drug possession in a public housing zone, felony 5th-degree drug possession, two counts of gross misdemeanor 5th-degree drug possession-not small amount of marijuana and petty misdemeanor open bottle were filed April 5 against Matthew J. Schultz, 47, 326 Payne St. N.

Charges including felony predatory offender-knowingly commits act or fails to fulfill registration requirement, 3rd drug possession in a public housing zone, and 5th-degree drug possession were filed in Brown County District Court April 5 against Steven L. Tauer, 1112 7th St. N., New Ulm.

Schultz makes an initial court appearance at 8:30 a.m. May 4. Probable cause to detain was found April 5, according to court documents.

Tauer’s bail without conditions was set at $75,000; $25,000 with conditions April 5. A court appearance was set for 2:45 a.m., Monday, April 12.

According to court documents, New Ulm Police Sgt. Charles Rasche observed a vehicle parked at 1400 N. Broadway at 11:33 p.m. April 1 with multiple occupants inside who appeared to take a keen interest in his marked, squad vehicle, turning their heads in their seats, to observe him.

As the vehicle pulled out of a parking lot and headed north on Broadway, then east on 20th North, Rasche noticed a cracked windshield glisten under street lights and stopped the vehicle north of the North Broadway, KC Road intersection, near Riverview Townhomes, a public housing zone.

Approaching the vehicle, Rasche smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from the vehicle. Rasche was aware of prior drug use and activity of the vehicle’s occupants due to prior infractions.

More officers arrived plus K9 Dino, trained and certified to follow methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. The vehicle’s owner, Matthew Schultz, consented to an exterior vehicle sniff.

Rasche asked Schultz what he had in his mouth before Schultz reached to his mouth with his left hand and spit a small baggie into it, and threw it to east, toward the roadside. Schultz was arrested and volunteered to allow officers to search the vehicle.

Rasche asked Tauer if he had anything on him and advised him to turn it over. Tauer handed Rasche a baggie with a small amount of a crystal-like substance, believed to be methamphetamine. Rasche searched Tauer and found a piece of wrapped-up paper that contained a small amount of a green, leafy substance consistent with marijuana.

After Dino indicated an area in the vehicle where Tauer was seated, Officer Erik Byro noticed a wooden figurine with a screw-off head containing a wrapped-up baggie that appeared to contain a narcotic.

Brown County Sheriff’s deputies found a small soft cooler with eight unopened beers and an open can of Twisted Tea, an alcoholic beverage. Schlutz provided a preliminary breath test reading of .171.

Rasche tested and weighed Tauer’s wooden toy figurine that tested positive for 1.6 grams of methamphetamine and contained five, light blue oval pills with “100” printed on them. Rasche discovered the pills were generic, unregulated Viagra called Kamagra, made overseas.

Paper in Tauer’s pocked tested positive for marijuana and weighed .2 grams. A baggie in Tauer’s pocket tested positive for meth and weighed .3 grams. The baggie in Schultz’ mouth tested positive for meth. A baggie in a silver page tested positive for meth and weighed 2.4 grams.

Officer Martin was aware Tauer was a predatory offender and required to register and was currently non-compliant.

Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.