Pennington County, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – A Viking man has been charged in Pennington County District Court after he allegedly sold 3.1 grams of methamphetamine to an informant in December and conspired to purchase an additional ounce of meth the following month.
Jeremy Aaron Tostrup, 27, has been charged with felony offenses of first-degree controlled substance crime – conspiracy, third-degree controlled substance crime – sale, and third-degree controlled substance crime – possession. The complaint was filed on Tuesday, April 9. Tostrup was arrested the following day on a warrant for the former two offenses. At that time, he allegedly possessed two bags totaling 14.6 grams of meth with the weight of the packaging included. The latter charge stemmed from that incident.
The initial charges stemmed from a Dec. 5 communication between a Pine to Prairie Drug Task Force officer and a confidential, reliable informant. The informant said Tostrup had contacted the individual about possibly purchasing some meth. Under the guidance of the task force officer, the informant then made arrangements to purchase meth from Tostrup. The informant was later provided with drug-buy funds and an audio recording and transmitting device.
At about 4:17 p.m., the informant met with Tostrup in the 1100 block of Main Ave. N. While under surveillance, the informant allegedly purchased 3.1 grams of meth for $150 from Tostrup. The informant was later shown a photo of Tostrup and confirmed that he was the person who sold the meth.
On Jan. 5, the informant contacted the task force officer, saying Tostrup had communicated with the person again about purchasing meth. Tostrup allegedly wanted $500 upfront since he didn’t have the meth. He told the informant that he planned to drive to Mahnomen to purchase an ounce of meth and then provide the meth to the informant later that evening. The task force officer recorded a phone call between the informant and Tostrup during which they confirmed the price. He then surveilled as the informant picked up Tostrup in the 200 block of Brooks Ave. S.
The informant said the money was given to Tostrup as they drove around and the informant then dropped Tostrup off in the same location. By looking at a photo, the informant again confirmed that Tostrup was the person with whom the individual had met.
The meth was apparently never provided to the informant. On the evening of Jan. 5, Tostrup allegedly said the sale didn’t work out and he could refund the money to the informant via Cash App. The informant said that wouldn’t work and told Tostrup to keep the cash. Tostrup allegedly said he would try again in
Grand Forks, N.D., after work. On Jan. 7, under the direction of the task force officer, the informant confirmed with Tostrup that he had the meth. However, Tostrup said he was in Karlstad. The informant planned to schedule a meeting for the following day; however, Tostrup said he was already at work. The informant never heard from Tostrup again.
The complaint indicated that Tostrup had been previously convicted of gross misdemeanor fifth-degree controlled substance crime as part of a 2017 Pennington County case. At the time that the complaint was written, he was out of jail on conditions of release for three pending Pennington County charges. They included felony second-degree burglary, felony first-degree burglary, and felony second-degree controlled substance crime–sale. Those charges were from 2022, 2020, and 2019, respectively. As part of his conditions of release, Tostrup wasn’t allowed to purchase, possess or consume illegal drugs.
Tostrup was arrested on Wednesday, April 10. Two PTPDTF officers were surveilling a home in the 200 block of Brooks Ave. S. when they saw Tostrup exit the home and leave in a Cadillac Escalade. At the time, a warrant was out for Tostrup’s arrest related to the initial charges. Tostrup soon parked near the intersection of Third Street and Horace Avenue, where the officers conducted a felony traffic stop.
According to the complaint, Tostrup allegedly possessed a small baggie and a zip-top sandwich bag in the same front pants pocket. Both contained substances that had presumptive positive test results for meth. The small baggie weighed 2.3 grams while the sandwich bag weighed 12.3 grams. The weight of the packaging was included in both measurements.