by Logan Gruber
operations@thenewsleaders.com
A Sauk Rapids man was charged July 6 in Benton County District Court with first-degree drug possession. He had been arrested with more than 47 grams of methamphetamine last week, according to the complaint.
Randal Donn Ramler, 37, was also charged with fleeing police on foot.
According to court documents, Sauk Rapids police received information in the early morning on July 3 that Nathaniel Backes, who has an active felony warrant from the Department of Corrections, would be leaving with another person from Huisken Meat Co. at 245 Industrial Boulevard.
Officers observed a green pickup registered to Backes leave the business, and then pull into the driveway of C4 Welding. The driver, who officers later identified as Ramler, immediately ran away as officers approached. Officers deployed a stun gun and released a K-9, which grabbed Ramler.
Police had seen Ramler stick his hands in his pockets, which were inside out when he was apprehended. Officers found two separate bags of methamphetamine, weighing 18.4 grams and 23.3 grams, nearby. Also, more than 5 grams of methamphetamine were found inside the pickup.
Ramler admitted he saw police nearby after leaving Huisken Meat Co. and threw the drugs from his pocket as he ran out of fear of going to jail.
Ramler had been sentenced in March 2007 for a previous drug-related crime.
