Beltrami County, MN: Cass Lake Man Charged in Major Drug Case
BELTRAMI COUNTY (trfnews.i234.me) — A Cass Lake man is facing serious felony charges after law enforcement found a loaded gun and a large quantity of methamphetamine during an arrest in Beltrami County.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Beltrami County District Court, Alexander Hart, 32, of Cass Lake, has been charged with First-Degree Drug Possession, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, and Fleeing a Peace Officer. The most serious charge carries a potential sentence of up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine under Minnesota Statute 152.021.
According to the Leech Lake Police Department, officers located Hart on September 23, 2025, near Kappes Lane SE in Beltrami County. He was wanted on an active Department of Corrections warrant for a supervised release violation stemming from a prior first-degree drug conviction in 2021.
When officers found Hart, he was reportedly hiding near a tree. A loaded semi-automatic handgun and a large amount of suspected methamphetamine were discovered buried beneath him. The substance field-tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed more than 90 grams — nearly double the threshold for a first-degree felony possession charge.
Records show Hart is currently on supervised release until June 2026 and has a lengthy criminal history, including prior convictions for drug possession, fleeing police, and domestic assault. He is also charged in another case for being a felon in possession of ammunition related to an incident on September 1, 2025.
Hart was taken into custody and remains detained at the Beltrami County Jail pending his next court appearance. The case continues to be investigated by the Leech Lake Police Department and the Beltrami County Attorney’s Office.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
