Pounds of meth seized Friday in Worthington

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WORTHINGTON — Agents of the Buffalo Ridge Drug Task Force seized more than four pounds of methamphetamine Friday afternoon after conducting surveillance on a Worthington residence.

Ronald Joseph Soules, 41, of Worthington, was charged Monday with both first-degree sale and possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Kari Lynn Baumann, 31, also of Worthington, was charged with one count of first-degree controlled substance possession.

According to the criminal complaint, agents of the task force executed a search warrant at Soules’ home on Fourth Ave. after receiving reliable information of possible drug activity occurring in the basement. An agent was given specific dates of meth purchases and told where meth could be found in the house.

Agents had conducted surveillance on the home on a number of occasions, the complaint states, and had observed several individuals going to and from the home who the agents knew were involved with meth.

The agents knocked on the door shortly before 3:30 p.m. and were met by Baumann, who had been frequently observed at the residence.

The agent continued past Baumann into the house, and immediately found a small cup with a substance inside that tested positive for meth. Baumann was handcuffed and detained.

Soules and another man were located inside another room, the complaint states. Inside were two broken pipes, one that appeared to contain residue.

During the search, 1,862.3 grams of suspected meth, or 4.1 pounds, were found in a safe. Samples of over 26 grams were taken from random baggies and field tested – all tested positive for meth.

Bail for Soules was set at $10,000. His next court appearance is at 9 a.m. April 7. Baumann, who has an appearance at the same time, had a bail amount set for $5,000.

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