Felony Drug Conviction Tied to Traffic Stop Near Stewartville

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Freeborn County woman has admitted to a felony drug charge stemming from a traffic stop in Stewartville.

First-Degree Drug Charge Dropped

Forty-one-year-old Cassandra Ann Carter of Glenville has entered a Norgaard plea to a charge of second-degree drug possession. Under the plea agreement, a first-degree drug sales charge and a third-degree drug possession charge will be dismissed.

What is a Norgaard Plea?

A Norgaard plea means Carter admits her guilt but does not remember her actions, most often because of drug or alcohol intoxication.

Traffic Stop For Turn Signal Violation

The criminal complaint says Carter was a passenger in a vehicle that was pulled over by an Olmsted County Sheriff's deputy for a turn-signal violation on Interstate 90 in September 2024. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of more than 27 grams of methamphetamine.

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Evidence of Drug Sales

The court document says the deputy also found 15 cell phones, two digital scales, 200 empty Ziploc baggies, and Post-it notes that appeared to be drug ledgers. Most of the meth and the other items were found in a purse that was located on the floorboard next to Carter.

The driver of the vehicle was previously convicted of fifth-degree drug possession and was sentenced to five years of probation.

These Common Household Items Are Now Banned In Minnesota

A hot topic lately is PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as "forever chemicals" because they are difficult for humans to detoxify and have half-lives measured in years. These chemicals accumulate in the body over time and can cause significant health issues even at low exposure levels

PFAS are commonly found in the environment and the human body and have been linked to a range of health concerns including increased cholesterol levels, potential disruption of hormone systems, reduced immune function, increased risk of certain cancers, developmental issues in children, and reproductive problems, particularly in pregnant women.

On January 1, 2024, Minnesota prohibited PFAS in firefighting foam and food packaging. The state is taking an even more aggressive stance against the chemicals in 2025.

According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the first prohibitions of products containing intentionally added PFAS under Amara's Law (Minn. Stat. § 116.943) are now in effect in Minnesota, meaning you can no longer legally purchase these items.

If you're wondering if you already have products with intentionally added PFAS, you can take the following steps to be sure:

Check the label - Look for products that are labeled as PFAS-free.
Check for keywords - Look for words like "waterproof," "stain-repellent," or "dirt-repellant" on the tag.
Check for ingredients - Avoid products that contain ingredients with "perfluoro" or "fluoro" in their name.
Use a third-party verification service - Some organizations offer third-party verification of products that claim to be made without PFAS.

As of January 1, 2025, you can no longer purchase products with intentionally added PFAS in Minnesota. These products fall under the 11 categories below.

Gallery Credit: David Drew

Filed Under: drugs, Freeborn County, Local Crime Coverage, methamphetamine, Olmsted County Sheriff's office, Stewartville

Categories: Local News