Cherrington arrested for cocaine possession

Derek Chester Cherrington was arraigned Monday in Carlton County Court for felony second-degree drug possession, for allegedly possessing approximately 8 grams of cocaine.

When Cherrington was stopped by Cloquet police the afternoon of Friday, July 23, however, the location of the cocaine wasn’t immediately apparent.

According to the criminal complaint, police knew in advance that Cherrington was going to purchase drugs in the parking lot of the Super 8 Motel on Big Lake Road in Cloquet. Cloquet Police Chief Wade Lamirande observed Cherrington’s vehicle arrive in the motel parking lot. A man on a red four-wheeler approached the 2003 Kia Rio sedan and then entered through the passenger door for a short time, then left. Police stopped Cherrington after he left the parking lot, when he was driving southbound on Highway 33.

In the complaint, it states that Lamirande located a plastic baggie with a small amount of marijuana together with a marijuana pipe in the front passenger seat. When Cherrington was further questioned about any additional controlled substances and informed that it would mean a second felony if more drugs were discovered, the complaint states he admitted he had just purchased a large amount of cocaine from the man on the four-wheeler. However, while he was in the process of getting stopped by police, Cherrington said he had inserted the cocaine in his rectum, according to the complaint.

Cherrington was taken to the Law Enforcement Center where he removed the drugs, which police said tested positive for cocaine and had a field weight of close to 8 grams.

On Monday, bond was set at $40,000. Cherrington made bail of $4,000.

Cherrington is set to appear in court next on Monday, Aug. 2.

Tags: daily updates, carlton county, news, crime, drugs