Crow Wing County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Brainerd man faces felony drug possession and misdemeanor DWI charges following a traffic stop in Baxter on July 14, 2025.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Crow Wing County District Court, Ira Lee Newman, 52, was pulled over for vehicle violations, including a cracked windshield and loud exhaust, on Highland Scenic Road.
During the stop, Officer Adam Casanova observed signs of drug impairment, including constricted pupils and eyelid tremors. Newman admitted to recent marijuana use and later tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamines.
A search of Newman’s belongings revealed a baggie containing suspected methamphetamine hidden in a cigarette pack, as well as a used meth pipe in the vehicle’s center console. The substance weighed about 2 grams and tested positive for methamphetamine.
If convicted, Newman faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for the felony possession charge, along with penalties for the DWI offense.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.