WORTHINGTON ― A Minneapolis couple was traveling through Worthington early Tuesday morning when they were stopped by Worthington police and arrested for felony drug crimes.
During a routine traffic stop, Erika Camp, 49, and Shawn Brtek, 41, both of Minneapolis, allegedly showed signs of being under the influence of drugs. The officer also noticed a marijuana pipe in the glove box when passenger Brtek opened it to retrieve the vehicle rental agreement.
An initial search of the vehicle revealed a white crystal substance on the floor of the backseat, and a field test identified it as methamphetamine. Inside a suitcase, law enforcement discovered several baggies containing a total of 61.4 grams of meth, $10,710 in cash and 5.5 grams of a substance officers believed to be crushed psilocybin mushrooms.
A second vehicle search by WPD resulted in the discovery of an additional 20 pounds of meth hidden behind a vehicle panel.
Camp and Brtek were both charged with four felonies: 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.
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Once in the squad car, Brtek allegedly told the arresting officer that the drugs were his and that his wife, Camp, didn’t know anything about them.
Camp was previously convicted of other felony drug crimes in Minnesota; Brtek has a previous violent crime on his record. Their criminal history scores, calculated using their history and the severity of their Tuesday charges, will impact their recommended sentences. Each faces a maximum possible sentence of 40 years in prison and/or a $1 million fine.
