Battle Lake Man Charged in Toddler Cocaine Case

BATTLE LAKE, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) — A Battle Lake man faces two charges after a toddler tested positive for cocaine.

Nicholas Scott Olson is charged in Otter Tail County District Court. The case includes one felony and one gross misdemeanor.

The felony alleges fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance. The second charge alleges child endangerment.

The allegations come from a criminal complaint filed in Minnesota’s Seventh Judicial District. The reported incident happened on March 29, 2026.

Child Taken to Hospital

Deputies were called after a 23-month-old girl arrived at a hospital in Elbow Lake.

Medical testing showed cocaine in her system, according to the complaint.

Jozee Ray Lee told investigators she was folding laundry with the child nearby.

Lee then saw the child chewing on a short pink straw.

She said the straw contained white residue. Lee believed the child found it inside Olson’s bedroom nightstand.

Relatives urged Lee to take the child to a hospital. She then brought the girl for medical care.

Olson denied owning the straw, according to the complaint.

He reportedly said a friend may have left it at the home.

Investigators later obtained a search warrant for the Battle Lake residence.

They found the pink straw inside the bedroom nightstand, the complaint states.

Deputies also found a plastic bag containing suspected cocaine inside a closet dresser.

The drawer was near the child’s eye level, according to court records.

The straw and bag tested positive for cocaine during field tests.

The substance inside the bag weighed 7.3 grams, the complaint states.

The felony charge was filed under Minnesota Statute 152.025.

A conviction could bring up to five years in prison. The maximum listed fine is $10,000.

Olson also faces a gross misdemeanor under Minnesota Statute 609.378.

That charge carries up to one year in jail. The maximum listed fine is $3,000.

Public case documents may be found through Minnesota Court Records Online.

A criminal complaint contains allegations and does not prove guilt.

Olson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.