Pennington County (trfnews.i234.me) — Another drug bust tied to a growing cocaine distribution ring in Thief River Falls has surfaced, as Elmer Baez Rodriguez, age 33, has been formally charged in Pennington County District Court with Second-Degree Sale of a Narcotic for allegedly arranging a cocaine deal at a local park.
According to court documents, a confidential informant (CI) contacted law enforcement on August 15, 2024, after Rodriguez reached out offering to sell a half-ounce of cocaine. A controlled buy was coordinated for the following day at LaFave Park.
On August 16, the CI was provided with $800 in pre-recorded funds and met with Rodriguez and Nathanael Centeno Reyes in the parking lot of the park. Rodriguez was allegedly driving his black Toyota Corolla, and Reyes was in the passenger seat.
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Reyes exited the vehicle, handed a small cloth bag to the CI containing a Ziplock bag with white powder, and in return, the CI handed Reyes the cash.
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The powder tested presumptively positive for cocaine, weighing approximately 13.816 grams after confirmation by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Rodriguez is now charged with:
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2nd Degree Sale of 10+ grams of a Narcotic (excluding heroin/fentanyl)
– Max Penalty: 25 years in prison, $500,000 fine
This arrest is linked to other active narcotics cases involving both Rodriguez and Reyes, including a later bust that recovered 155 grams of cocaine and 30 pounds of marijuana.
Did you know?
📄 Charge: 2nd Degree Drug Sale – Cocaine
📅 Offense Dates: August 15–16, 2024
🏛 Statute: Minnesota Statute 152.022.1(1)
🔒 Max Sentence: 25 years in prison, $500,000 fine
📍 Court File No.: 57-CR-25-336
📍 Prosecutor File No.: 25-600-51
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for TRF News.