Monticello, Wright County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Redlake man faces a felony drug charge after a traffic stop in Monticello. Court papers say a K9 alerted on his vehicle during the early morning stop.
What the police say happened
Charges say William James Parkhurst, 49, was driving in Monticello on Thursday, Feb. 5. A deputy stopped him about 1:51 a.m. near Cedar Street and Oakwood Drive East.
The complaint says the vehicle did not fully stop at the intersection. The deputy then spoke with Parkhurst and watched his behavior.
K9 alert and search
Investigators say drug items were in plain view inside the vehicle. The items included burnt tin foil and a meth pipe.
Police then used a K9 to sniff the outside of the vehicle. The K9, named Grizz, gave a positive alert, according to the complaint.
After the alert, police searched the vehicle, the complaint says. Officers report finding about 0.71 grams of suspected methamphetamine.
The substance was located in the driver’s side door area, according to the filing. The complaint says Parkhurst told police the drug was his.
Police also reported that a field test was positive for methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance, according to the filing.
Court action and next steps
Parkhurst appeared in Wright County District Court on Feb. 5. Judge John Bowen set bail at $10,000 with no conditions listed.
He is charged with felony fifth-degree drug possession. The charge is listed under Minnesota Statute 152.025.
Parkhurst has not been convicted in this case. A charge is an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent.
Case details are below.
- Alleged offense date: Feb. 5, 2026.
- Date filed: Feb. 5, 2026.
- Jurisdiction: Wright County, Minnesota.
Readers can review the statute at Minnesota Statute 152.025. The state drug schedules are listed at Minnesota Statute 152.02.
Public case information is often available on Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO). County court services are also listed by Wright County Court Administration.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.