A Minneapolis couple is facing a raft of felony drug charges after the rental vehicle they were travelling in was found to have 20 pounds of methamphetamine in the trunk during a traffic stop.
According to a report on the arrest, Shawn Ray Brtek, 41, and Erika Laura Camp, 49, were driving through Worthington, MN on Tuesday when they were pulled over during a routine traffic stop.
Worthington police reportedly observed that the two appeared to be under the influence of drugs and observed a marijuana pipe in the glove box when Brtek opened it to retrieve the vehicle rental agreement.
A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a white substance on the backseat floor that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Police also found a suitcase filled with several baggies containing over of 61 grams of meth, $10,710 in cash and 5.5 grams of a substance officers believed to be crushed psilocybin mushrooms.
A second search of the vehicle turned up an additional 20 pounds of meth hidden behind a vehicle panel.
Brtek reportedly told police that the drugs belonged to him and that Camp, his wife, didn’t know anything about them.
HISTORY
Court records show that Brtek is a predatory offender, and he was once questioned by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in relation to the disappearance of Leanna Warner, a Chisholm 5-year-old who disappeared in 2003.
Brtek has several prior convictions including attempted second-degree sexual assault of a child under 13, felony domestic assault by strangulation, other domestic assault, theft of motor vehicle, violation of a no contact order and two felony convictions on predatory offender registration failure.
In his most recent conviction on predatory offender registration failure, Brtek was granted a stay by dispositional departure on his 24-month prison sentence by Hennepin County Judge Fred Karasov. Brtek was instead sentenced to 180 days in the workhouse and was placed on supervised probation.
Brtek violated probation at least four times following his conviction, yet his prison sentence was never executed. Brtek last violated probation on the conviction in June 2019 and was sentenced to a stint in the workhouse. Court records show that he was discharged from probation following completion of his workhouse term and that his voting rights were restored in February of this year.
Camp, whose most recent address is listed in north Minneapolis, has two prior felony convictions for first- and third-degree narcotics. Camp was charged in a new Hennepin County case in September with five felony counts of first-, second- and fifth-degree controlled substance involving meth and/or cocaine. A jury trial is scheduled for June in that case.
NEW CHARGES
Brtek and Camp and were both charged with four felonies including two counts of first-degree aggravated controlled substance crime with two aggravating factors and one count each of first-degree drug sale and first-degree drug possession. They were also charged with the misdemeanor offense of violating the governor’s stay-at-home order.
Both remain in custody in Nobles County Jail, Brtek on $500,000 bail and Camp on $200,000 bail. Court records show that both were granted public defenders and they are both scheduled to next appear in court on April 21.
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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.
