Mille Lacs County – South Harbor Township (trfnews.i234.me) – A routine patrol turned into a major drug and fugitive arrest early Wednesday morning, thanks to alert work by a Mille Lacs County deputy.
According to Sheriff Kyle Burton, at approximately 4:38 a.m. on Highway 27 in South Harbor Township, a deputy came across a vehicle stopped in the middle of the road with its hazard lights flashing. Upon investigation, the deputy observed a man running in circles around the vehicle—a behavior that immediately raised concerns.
The man was quickly identified as Alexander Russell, a fugitive wanted by the Minnesota Department of Corrections since November 2023. As the deputy attempted to arrest him, Russell resisted, leading to a physical confrontation before he was ultimately taken into custody.
During the arrest, deputies discovered approximately 49 grams of a substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine, leading to several serious felony charges:
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First-Degree Drug Possession (meth) – punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine
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First-Degree Drug Sale – same maximum penalties
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Second-Degree Drug Possession (25g or more) – up to 25 years and $500,000 fine
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Obstructing Legal Process with Force
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Refusal to Submit to Chemical Test – DWI
Sheriff Burton emphasized that transparency and community safety are priorities for his department and praised his deputies for removing a dangerous and erratic fugitive from the streets.
“If you’re driving around Mille Lacs County with a big bag of meth, you’re going to get caught,” Burton said. “This is exactly the kind of proactive police work that keeps our community safe.”
Russell remains in custody as he works his way through the legal system.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.