Cass Lake Woman Faces Meth, DWI Charges

Cass Lake (trfnews.i234.me) — Gahshi Marie Roper faces three criminal charges following a September 9 traffic stop.

The charges include felony methamphetamine possession and two gross misdemeanor DWI-related counts.

The case was filed in Cass County District Court.

Traffic Stop Begins On Highway 371

According to the complaint, law enforcement was traveling on Highway 371 near Golf Course Road.

An officer saw a red Ford Taurus traveling south without a front license plate.

The officer recognized the driver as Gahshi Marie Roper, according to the complaint.

Authorities also knew Roper had an active arrest warrant from Hubbard County.

Roper reportedly told the officer she knew about the warrant.

She said she missed court while visiting a terminally ill grandmother in the Twin Cities.

The complaint says Roper became fidgety and emotional while the warrant was confirmed.

Authorities also reported heavy sweating and unusual movements.

The officer said those observations raised concerns about possible controlled substance use.

Investigators searched the area near the driver’s seat during the encounter.

The complaint says a small bag containing a white crystalline substance was found inside a Red Bull can.

Police suspected the substance was methamphetamine.

The substance and lightweight bag weighed about .63 grams, according to the complaint.

A field test later indicated the presence of methamphetamine.

Roper was then taken to the Leech Lake Tribal Police Center.

Authorities asked Roper to perform field sobriety testing.

She initially declined before agreeing to part of an eye examination.

The complaint says she stopped the test after saying she did not want to incriminate herself.

Investigators then obtained a search warrant for a blood or urine sample.

Roper was transported to a hospital in Cass Lake.

Authorities told her several times that refusing the court-ordered test could be a crime.

The complaint says she was offered both blood and urine testing.

She allegedly refused both and said she wanted to speak with a lawyer.

Roper was later taken to the Cass County Detention Center.

The felony drug charge falls under Minnesota Statute 152.025.

It carries up to five years in prison and a possible $10,000 fine.

The two DWI-related charges fall under Minnesota Statute 169A.20.

Each gross misdemeanor carries up to 364 days in jail and a possible $3,000 fine.

Prosecutors also cite a 2024 Hubbard County controlled substance DWI conviction.

The case is filed as 11-CR-26-1353 in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District.

Public court records are available through Minnesota Court Records Online.

The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.

Roper is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.