Wanted Chicago Man Charged in Large Fentanyl Bust at Rochester Apartment

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A felon with active arrest warrants is facing a felony drug charge following the attempted execution of a search warrant at a Rochester apartment building. 

See Also: Hundreds of Fentanyl Pills Seized in Bust Near Rochester School

That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court on Friday. The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office went to the apartment to serve the search warrant shortly after 10:15 on Thursday morning. 

Deputies saw the suspect, who has a Chicago address, got into a vehicle and had to chase him down after stopping the vehicle, the complaint says. 

Chicago Man Caught With Hundreds of Fentanyl Pills in Rochester Drug Bust

31-year-old Robert Edward Collins III was the subject of the search warrant. The court filing says he had multiple active arrest warrants, including a warrant tied to an incident involving the alleged use of a firearm. 

The charges say Collins got into the backseat of a vehicle then ran out of the vehicle once it was stopped by law enforcement. He was later captured in a backyard after fleeing on foot. 

Get our free mobile app

Collins was also seen throwing a blue object he had on him while he was attempting to run away from the deputies, the complaint says. 

Law enforcement recovered the object and found a baggie containing blue M30 pills, that authorities say are typically laced with fentanyl and another baggie with a pink powder inside of it. 

The baggie weighed 54.1 grams and contained 482 of the M30 pills, according to the complaint. 

The location of the arrest and further details regarding the pink powder are not disclosed in the court document. 

Collins has been charged with a count of first-degree drug possession and a misdemeanor charge of fleeing police on foot. His bail was set at $100,000 without conditions on Friday. 

Court records indicate Collins has been convicted of two felony drug crimes in Olmsted County since 2012. 

He’s due back in court next month.

More Minnesota News:

• Fire Collapses Part of Southeast Minnesota Apartment Building 
• New Charges and More Details Concerning Rochester Man's Murder
• Level 3 Predatory Offender is Moving to SE Rochester Next Week