Charges Dismissed Against Man Jailed For Drug Possession
MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — A Mankato man was jailed for months while he waited for the state crime lab to process suspected drugs that turned out to be vitamins.
Joseph Burrell was arrested in November and charged with two felony counts of drug possession. His bail was set at $250,000. The 31-year-old Burrell says he's not happy it took so long for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to process the evidence.
Blue Earth County assistant attorney Chris Rovney says a field test was positive for amphetamine. A more accurate lab test done by BCA showed the bag of powder found in Burrell's car didn't contain anything illegal.
The Free Press says charges were dismissed just as Burrell was about to go to trial early this month. He has just completed a stay at a drug treatment center when he was stopped.
(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)