Crookston (trfnews.i234.me) A Crookston man is facing felony and gross misdemeanor charges after a traffic stop near Highland Elementary School, according to a criminal complaint filed in Polk County District Court.
Prosecutors charged Omar Jarrel Sanchez, 48, with third-degree controlled substance crime in a prohibited zone and third-degree refusal to submit to testing under a search warrant. The charges are allegations, and Sanchez is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What the complaint says
According to the complaint, police saw a silver 2004 Buick Park Avenue fail to stop at a stop sign while traveling in Crookston. The complaint says the vehicle was within the protected zone tied to Highland Elementary School.
Police then stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Sanchez. The complaint says he showed signs of possible drug impairment. Those signs included glossy eyes, rapid speech, hand tremors, and confusion.
The complaint says Sanchez told police he had taken prescribed dextroamphetamine earlier that day for ADHD. He also denied recent street drug use.
After field sobriety testing, police arrested Sanchez. The complaint says Sanchez then told police he had something in his shoe and two pipes in a laundry basket in the car.
Police reported finding a small bindle in his sock with a white crystal substance. A field test later indicated methamphetamine, according to the complaint. Police also reported finding a pipe with white residue that also tested positive for methamphetamine. A second pipe appeared to be used for marijuana, the complaint says.
Testing refusal charge
After the arrest, Sanchez was taken to the Northwest Regional Corrections Center. Investigators then obtained a warrant for a blood or urine sample.
The complaint says Sanchez first agreed to provide a urine sample. It says he later refused both blood and urine testing after being told refusal was a crime.
Under Minnesota law, third-degree controlled substance possession in a prohibited zone can carry a sentence of up to 20 years in prison. Third-degree test refusal is a gross misdemeanor under the state’s impaired driving laws. See Minnesota Statute 152.023 and Minnesota Statute 169A.20.
Prior record listed in complaint
The complaint also cites earlier drug convictions in Sanchez’s criminal history. It says he remains on supervised release tied to a 2024 prohibited-zone drug conviction.
The case will move through the Polk County court process. Further hearings are expected in Ninth Judicial District Court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
Dude just got out prison in December for same shit meth
So who gives it to him if he’s so stupid
They should have long term mandatory treatment and help these addicts psychologically Instead they come back to same people same shit. It’s a vicious circle.