Bemidji (trfnews.i234.me) – A Coon Rapids man is facing felony drug charges in Beltrami County after police say they discovered fentanyl during a traffic stop last fall.
According to a criminal complaint, Louis Dean Manypenny, 26, was a passenger in a vehicle stopped by Bemidji police on Highway 89 on November 17, 2024. Officers reported the car had crossed the fog line, prompting the stop.
During the traffic stop, an officer noticed what appeared to be cannabis inside the car without proper state labeling. A search of the vehicle uncovered a plastic bag hidden between the driver’s seat and the center console. The bag contained a white powdery substance that field-tested positive for fentanyl, weighing more than one gram.
The driver told police she had not used drugs and was three months pregnant at the time. She also said Manypenny had been driving the vehicle for most of the day. At first, Manypenny denied driving, but later admitted he had. When questioned about the fentanyl, he eventually told officers he “probably” placed it in the car earlier.
Court records show Manypenny has a prior conviction for criminal vehicular operation in 2024, a case in which fentanyl was also found in his system.
Manypenny is now charged with felony fifth-degree controlled substance possession for having more than .25 grams of fentanyl. The charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The case is under review in Beltrami County District Court.
For more on Minnesota drug laws, visit the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
