DRUG TASK FORCE TEAM STRIKES AGAIN IN RED LAKE

On December 14 and on December 18, 2016 the Red Lake Department of Public Safety Drug Task Force Team executed a series of search warrants at three separate rural Red Lake residences.

The warrants were served by the Red Lake Department of Public Safety Emergency Response Tactical Team (ERT) and Red Lake Drug Task Force.

The first search warrant resulted in the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of heroin, methamphetamine, prescription pills, LSD, semi-automatic weapons, handguns, electronic equipment and $7,887.00 in cash and estimated street values over $5000.00.

The Red Lake Department of Public Safety has now changed its policy on sharing names of those criminally charged on drug related cases and all parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The four individuals taken into custody on the first search warrant were identified as Red Lake Reservation residents, Rowdy James May age 32, Leroy Varney Jr. age 47, Kristy Leigh Lussier age 28 and Cass Lake, MN resident Valerie St. Cyr age 26.

All four parties face tribal court charges. Varney and May were charged with illegal possession and sale of drugs and Lussier was intially charged with drug sales and St. Cyr was charged with drug possession. Leroy Varney Jr. and Valarie St. Cyr were also extradited to Beltrami County for outstanding felony warrants following tribal court proceedings.

This case is being investigated in conjunction with the Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force and the Paul Bunyan Task Force.

The second search warrant involved two houses being searched simultaneously and resulted in the arrest of Tridell James Beaulieu age 26, Robby Lee Beaulieu age 27 and Chelsea Frances-Rose Graves age 25. Tridell is facing charges of illegal possession and sale of drugs and Beaulieu and Graves were arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and all were transferred to the Red Lake Detention Center. The warrant led to the seizure of $8,207. 00 cash, drug paraphernalia and several ounces of hi-grade marijuana with an estimated street value over $3,000.00.

The Red Lake Drug Task Force is comprised of Red Lake criminal investigators, patrol and conservation enforcement and other red lake law enforcement personnel. The Drug Task Force is dedicated solely towards the eradication of illegal drugs on Red Lake Reservation and to improve overall community health and public safety.

Please feel free to share any information you wish regarding the illegal use, sales or abuse of drugs to Red Lake Law Enforcement formally or anonymously and we welcome your help in making a difference in your community!