NEW ULM — A truck parked at the Kwik Trip North car wash entrance for 30 to 40 minutes in the early morning hours of Jan. 25 led to a drug arrest that included nine felony charges filed Wednesday against a 45-year-old Winthrop man.

Charges filed against Robert J. Olson, 307 Carver St. S., Winthrop included two felony counts of 2nd-degree narcotic drug possession near a park, three counts of felony 3rd-degree drugs, two counts of 4th-degree and 5th-degree drugs and possession of more than 1.4 grams marijuana in a motor vehicle.

Olson’s bail was set at $20,000 without conditions, no bail with conditions Wednesday. A court hearing was set for 9:30 a.m., Feb. 8, 2022.

According to court documents, New Ulm Police Officer Tara Martin noticed a white 2019 GMC Sierra pickup truck parked in the Kwik Trip North car wash entrance, 1623 N. Broadway at 2:47 a.m. Jan. 25. The car wash is one block from North Park.

Martin reported she noticed the truck due to the -9 degree temperature and -27 degree wind chill, but the truck’s driver’s side window was down and it had not moved for 30 to 40 minutes, despite no vehicles in the car wash.

Police stood on the truck running board and saw a man drop a large amount of $100 bills onto the floor from his hand. In addition, police noted an overwhelming odor of masking scents (strong scents that temporary cover unpleasant odors) despite the truck window being down for a long time.

The driver was identified as Olson, who said he believed he was in New Auburn and said he lived in Brownton. His driver’s license showed a Winthrop address.

After New Ulm Police officer Erik Byro’s K9 Dino alerted to the vehicle, Olson was placed in the rear of a squad vehicle while police searched his vehicle.

Police found a vape device with what was recognized as THC concentrate, later tested positive for it and weighed about .5 grams.

A baggie was found that field tested positive for methamphetamines. The total weight including packaging was 1 gram.

The total weight including packaging of drugs found in Olson’s vehicle included 7.2 grams of methamphetamine, 28.9 grams of marijuana, .5 grams of THC concentrate and 1 gram of cocaine.

After Olson’s truck was towed to the New Ulm Public Safety building, police returned to the Brown County Law Enforcement Center and inventoried cash found on Olson. Most of the cash was $100 bills and labeled by date.