Charges Tossed in Case Of Rochester Teen Involving 800+ LSD Doses

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - An Olmsted County judge has thrown out the charges against a Rochester teenager stemming from a large drug bust in Rochester last summer.

19-year-old Ezequiel Garcia-Hall was arrested as a result of an investigation that was launched after Rochester police received tips from citizens about activity that suggested drug deals were taking place a parking lot. The criminal complaint indicates investigators responded by setting up a surveillance operation during which they described witnessing "multiple and consistent hand-to-hand transactions" involving the driver of the car and multiple other vehicles that visited the parking lot.

READ MORE: Teen Charged After Large Rochester, MN Drug Bust Near Elementary School

The court record says investigators traced the car to Garcia-Hall and obtained a search warrant for his home near Franklin Elementary School, vehicle and his person. The complaint says the search resulted in the seizure of approximately 300 THC cartridges, multiple jars of THC wax, more than 500 grams of suspected hallucinogenic mushrooms, and 840 doses of presumptive LSD.

The charges say investigators also found a so-called "ghost gun," which was described as a black polymer 9 mm handgun with no serial number. They also confiscated a box containing packaging material including plastic baggies, and more than $9000 in cash.

Court records indicate the defense attorney for Garcia-Hall challenged the legality of the search warrant by arguing the investigators had failed to link the alleged drug transactions in the parking lot to Garcia-Hall's home. The judge hearing the case agreed, and dismissed the felony charges brought against Garcia-Hall in a ruling issued earlier this month.

Garcia-Hall had been charged with one count of first-degree drug sales, three counts of first-degree drug possession, and possessing a firearm with no serial number. He also faced the misdemeanor count of possessing "brass knuckles." Court documents indicate that charge was dismissed by the Olmsted County Attorney's Office following the judge's ruling "in the interest of justice."