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Minnesota County returns car, nearly $10,000 to suspected drug dealer after dismissing charges
Clay County returns car, nearly $10,000 to suspected drug dealer after dismissing charges because of recent court decisionBy Adrian Glass-Moore on Oct 22, 2014 at 10:59 p.m.
MOORHEAD – Clay County is writing a $9,928 check to a suspected drug dealer and returning his car after prosecutors dismissed charges against him. ... Moorhead police impounded the Chevrolet Corvette of Thomas Lloyd Schultz, 26, after he was cited on June 17 for driving with a suspended license. Police then searched the vehicle and found $9,928 in cash mixed in with 4½ pounds of marijuana, according to Clay County Attorney Brian Melton.
But because of a recent Minnesota Supreme Court ruling and a change in state law, the felony charges against Schultz – fifth-degree sale and possession of marijuana – were dropped on Oct. 14.
....
The state Supreme Court on Aug. 20 sided with a woman whose car was impounded and searched after a traffic stop in Anoka County. Police found two bags of methamphetamine and glass pipes in Erica Rohde’s car, and she was later convicted of two drug charges.
The conviction was reversed on appeal by the Supreme Court, which ruled that impounding and searching Rohde’s car was unconstitutional because police did not originally intend to arrest her and her car was not blocking traffic or posing a safety hazard. ... That ruling made defending the police search of Schultz’ Corvette impossible, Melton wrote.