Two men were arrested last week on drug charges after Cloquet police found cocaine, methadone and marijuana in a vehicle during a traffic stop.
Chad Michael Nylund of Mountain Iron, Minn., and Jacob Lee Kivela-Sandnas of Virginia, Minn., were charged with a felony first degree controlled substance for allegedly possessing more than 25 grams of cocaine.
Nylund, 21, was driving through Cloquet on Highway 33 on Oct. 4 at nearly 3:30 a.m. when he was stopped by Sergeant Scott Holman for driving erratically.
Four young men were in the vehicle and after Nylund was escorted back to Holman's squad car, the narcotics dog immediately indicated positively for drugs, according to court documents.
Nylund allegedly admitted smoking marijuana earlier and said he had recently purchased the car he was driving from a known drug dealer, so there may be drugs in the vehicle.
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Additional police officers arrived to assist and when the dog was walked around the vehicle, she immediately indicated the presence of drugs. Officers then found cocaine, marijuana, methadone tablets and drug paraphernalia in the glove box, documents said.
Approximately 33 grams of cocaine were found, which is equivalent to the amount in 33 sugar packets, according to Thom Pertler, Carlton County attorney.
One gram of cocaine typically sells for approximately $150, Pertler said.
During later interviews with the four men, officers determined the two backseat passengers were not aware that Nylund and Kivela-Sandnas, 19, had purchased cocaine or methadone.
In addition to felony cocaine possession charges, the men each face a charge of felony fifth degree controlled substance for methadone possession and misdemeanor possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle.
Both appeared in Carlton County District Court last week and each remains in jail on $100,000 bail bond.
If convicted of the charges, both men could face up to more than 35 years in prison and/or up to more than $1 million in fines.
Both are scheduled for their next court appearance on Oct. 24.
