Drug investigation leads to arrests, seizures

   Cass County Sheriff Tom Burch reports that during the past year, pursuant to a statewide large scale ongoing investigation into the sales and use of controlled substances, Investigators with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies have conducted numerous traffic stops and search warrants targeting the seizure of methamphetamine. Throughout the course of this investigation, it has led to four 1st degree drug arrests, one 2nd degree drug arrest, one 3rd degree drug arrest and eight 5th degree drug arrests in multiple counties. To date, there has been over three pounds of methamphetamine seized, as well as over $11,000 in US currency also seized. The case is ongoing and formal charges are pending for numerous individuals in multiple counties.  

   Throughout the course of the investigation, Jeffrey Lee Thorsen, age 35 of Hackensack MN, has been identified as a leader of several of these cases. The investigation has revealed that Thorsen used individuals to transport quantities of methamphetamine from the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area to northern Minnesota for the purpose of sale. Formal charges are pending on Thorsen in Cass County, as well as other counties. Sheriff Burch reports that these are still active cases, with investigations ongoing. 

   The statewide investigation led by Cass County has been a cooperation of numerous agencies including; Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force, Leech Lake Tribal Police Department, MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, MN State Patrol, Morrison County Sheriff’s Office, Hubbard County Sheriff’s Office and Crow Wing County LADID.  

   Sheriff Burch reports that many of these investigations start with an anonymous tip and encourages you to submit tips and information to our agency through Crime Stoppers of Minnesota. Tips can be submitted safety and anonymously through the website at http://crimestoppersmn.org/ or by calling 1-800-222-8477.