ST. JAMES — A 54-year-old St. James man faces felony charges of 1st-degree drug sale and possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine in Watonwan County District Court.

An arrest warrant was requested for Matthew L. Radenbaugh, 819 Swanson St. N., St. James.

According to court documents, St. James Emergency Services responded to Radenbaugh’s residence for a medical issue on Nov. 28. He was transported to the Rochester Mayo Clinic for a medical condition.

A short time later, a witness arrived at the law enforcement center (LEC) in St. James and told officer Eric Gruninger they noticed a Ziploc bag partially under a couch where Radenbaugh was found. The witness picked up the bag, thought it was drugs and immediately took it to the LEC.

The substance in the bag weighed about 143 grams and field-tested positive for methamphetamine.

A search warrant was served at Radenbaugh’s residence where an additional 21.7 grams of methamphetamine and 34.5 grams of leafy marijuana were found.

Other items found were a scale with methamphetamine residue on the top, a glass, bubble pipe with meth residue and $5,100 in cash.

The amount of methamphetamine was more than would be considered normal for personal use, according to officers. A nation-wide arrest warrant for Radenbaugh was requested.

(Fritz Busch can be emailed at fbusch@

nujournal.com).