Rochester Police Seize More Than Half-Pound of Fentanyl

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A man arrested last summer on charges stemming from a months-long narcotics investigation by Rochester police is facing new charges involving more than a half-pound of fentanyl.

Fifty-two-year-old Darnell Brown was arraigned in Olmsted County court today on charges of first-degree drug sales and first-degree drug possession. The Rochester man was released without bail following the court hearing.

Investigators Link More Than 273 Grams of Fentanyl to Suspect

According to the charges, a search warrant was executed last September at a residence in the 1600 block of 8 1/2 Street Southeast, where Rochester police investigators reported finding a bag in the garage that contained more than 273 grams of fentanyl. The criminal complaint says testing at a Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension crime lab found Brown's DNA on the bag.

Photo by Andy Brownell-TSM Rochester

The court document says the bag containing the fentanyl was located in front of a vehicle belonging to Brown. A witness also told police that he had often seen Brown accessing the garage.

Jail Phone Conversations Lead to Search Warrant

The criminal complaint indicates the search warrant for the property was obtained using information gathered by investigators while monitoring Brown's phone conversations during his detainment in the Olmsted County jail last July. The charges allege that Brown instructed a person associated with the residence where the fentanyl was found to go to his southeast Rochester apartment and retrieve contraband "out of fear law enforcement would execute further warrants on his apartment."

Kim David TSM Rochester

Previously Charged With Selling Fentanyl

At the time, Brown was jailed on a list of felony drug charges involving alleged sales of fentanyl through controlled buys set up by police investigators. That investigation also led to the execution of a search warrant at Brown's business in southeast Rochester.

Brown is currently scheduled to appear at an evidentiary hearing next month on the charges stemming from that investigation. Court records show that he was handed a 67-month prison sentence after he was convicted of second-degree drug sales involving heroin in 2018.

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