Near Traffic Crash Leads to Large Rochester Meth Bust

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A near traffic crash at a busy Rochester intersection led to a large methamphetamine bust over the Thanksgiving weekend. 

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That’s according to a criminal complaint filed Monday in Olmsted County Court. The charges say a Rochester Police Officer on routine patrol witnessed the traffic incident at the intersection of Hwy. 14 and 3rd Ave. Southeast shortly before 7:30 p.m. Saturday. 

Officers stopped the vehicle after it fled the intersection at a high rate of speed, the complaint says. The driver got out of the vehicle and walked away from after it before officers could get behind it after it pulled over. 

Based on prior encounters, officers were able to identify the driver as 36-year-old Aaron Michael Still of Rochester. Based on Still’s behavior and history, officers requested and were eventually granted permission to search the vehicle, the charges say. 

The search uncovered a baggie containing 24 white circular pills imprinted with “AN 351”that a field test gave a faith indication for amphetamines. The complaint says an officer also canvassed the area Still was seen walking in and obtained permission to retrieve a black bag that appeared to have been discarded on a private property in the area of the traffic stop. 

That bag contained six pre-weighed baggies of a substance that tested positive for meth and weighed 179 grams with packaging. Police also found two cell phones on Still, the court document says. 

The charges say the large amount of suspected meth, the manner in which it was packaged and the presence of two phones are indicators of drug sale activity. 

Still was charged Monday with a felony count of first-degree drug sales and a felony count of first-degree drug possession. His conditional bail was set at $25,000. 

Court records indicate Still has a criminal history that dates back to 2006 that includes felony convictions for theft, fleeing, domestic assault and second-degree burglary. He’s due back in court next month.