Cass Lake Foot Chase Leads to Drug Charge
CASS LAKE (trfnews.i234.me) — An Onamia man faces two charges after a reported foot chase in Cass Lake.
Derek James Hunt, 44, is charged in Cass County District Court. The case was filed under court number 11-CR-26-756.
Hunt faces one felony count of fifth-degree controlled substance possession. He also faces one misdemeanor count of fleeing an officer on foot.
Deputies Locate Hunt Near Residence
The charges stem from an incident reported on May 30, 2026. Court records say Hunt had an active Beltrami County arrest warrant.
A Cass County deputy received information about Hunt’s location on Basswood Avenue. Deputies later saw a man matching Hunt’s description near the residence.
The complaint says Hunt entered an alley after seeing law enforcement. A deputy left an unmarked vehicle and identified himself.
The deputy ordered Hunt to approach, according to the complaint. Hunt allegedly ran from the area instead.
Deputies returned to the reported residence and saw Hunt near the building. A marked vehicle then arrived with emergency lights and sirens.
Substance Allegedly Found After Arrest
Hunt allegedly ran again before stopping and falling to the ground. Deputies then arrested him without any further reported struggle.
A search after the arrest allegedly found a substance on Hunt. The substance tested positive for methamphetamine, according to the complaint.
Court records list the total weight as 0.51 grams, including packaging. Methamphetamine is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance.
The felony charge falls under Minnesota Statute 152.025. A conviction may bring up to five years in prison.
The law also allows a fine of up to $10,000. Both penalties may be imposed in some cases.
The fleeing charge falls under Minnesota Statute 609.487. That misdemeanor carries up to 90 days in jail.
It may also bring a fine of up to $1,000. The complaint says Hunt fled to avoid arrest or investigation.
Complaint Contains Date Difference
One charge description lists May 30, 2025. However, the complaint identifies May 30, 2026, throughout the remaining case details.
The complaint also lists three prior Minnesota drug convictions. Those cases were filed in Morrison, Hubbard, and Cass counties.
The current charges are allegations. Hunt is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.