Acting on a tip that a recently convicted felon was selling methamphetamine and illegally in possession of firearms, authorities executed a search warrant at a north metro home and found several guns and meth in the house, according to a new Anoka County criminal complaint.
Dustin Joseph Otis, 37, is facing two new felony charges of felon in possession of a firearm and fifth-degree controlled substance after authorities found eleven guns and 2.7 grams of meth during the search on Jan. 24, the complaint said.
The search warrant was executed on the 7900 block of Pleasant View Drive Northeast in Spring Lake Park, MN, after a Minneapolis police officer received the tip from a source. The officer, acting along with Anoka County SWAT, searched the home and found one handgun attached to a bedroom nightstand with a magnet and they also found a safe containing ten more guns and ammunition. A substance that field tested positive for meth was found on a bar in the basement.
Otis was convicted last summer in two separate cases on felony charges. In June Otis was convicted in Pine County on one count of receiving stolen property and one count of being in possession of a bullet-resistant vest during the commission of a crime – both felonies.
In that case, Otis was originally charged in May 2018 with a total of five counts following his arrest after authorities found him trying to off-load a stolen skid-steer from a trailer and onto another vehicle, according to the Pine County criminal complaint. Following Otis’ detainment, authorities found brass knuckles and a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue in Otis’ pants pocket and a baggie containing meth that fell out of his pant leg. During a search of Otis’ vehicle officers located bullets, a firearm magazine, a holster and a bullet-resistant vest.
Otis pleaded guilty in that case to the two felony counts and was granted a stay-of-imposition (felony sentence not imposed) by Judge Patrick W. Flanagan. The three other counts of fifth-degree narcotics, possession of a firearm or ammunition while using a controlled substance and possession of brass knuckles were dismissed at sentencing. Otis was alternatively sentenced to the workhouse for 90 days and placed on probation for a term of 5 years.
A week after that conviction, Otis pleaded guilty to a felony charge of terroristic threats in a Kanabec County case that had been charged in 2012 but which had been continued without adjudication until Otis’ conviction on the two felonies a week prior. Again, Otis received a stay-of-imposition on the felony sentence by Judge Stoney L. Hiljus and was sentenced to 180 days in the workhouse, to be served concurrently with the Pine County sentence, and was placed on probation. The conviction on terroristic threats makes Otis is ineligible to possess firearms.
According to court records, Otis made his first court appearance on the new charges on Jan. 31 and was granted a public defender. The record shows that a non-cash bond was posted, and Otis was released from custody in Anoka County Jail on Feb. 6 and was transferred to the custody of Pine County for a probation violation on his prior conviction, where he currently remains in custody.
Otis is scheduled to make his next court appearance in Anoka County on Feb. 27. If convicted, Otis could face up to 15 years in prison on the gun charge and up to 5 years on the narcotics charge.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
