Charges: Minnesota Felon Was Flushing Evidence During Rochester Drug Bust

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Rochester felon is facing multiple felony drug charges resulting from a raid conducted by the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office. 

Get our free mobile app

That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court Thursday. Law enforcement executed the search warrant on Wednesday. 

The raid occurred at a residence in southeast Rochester. Upon making entry deputies removed three adults from the residence then located 32-year-old Matthew Jonathan Marquette in a bedroom wearing a jacket and backpack. 

While inside of the home law enforcement saw several surveillance cameras and a monitoring station set up in the bedroom Marquette was in. Law enforcement then learned Marquette was flushing suspected drugs down the toilet while deputies approached the residence, the court document says. 

Authorities then went into the bathroom where they discovered a baggie containing an off-white substance floating in the toilet bowl. Deputies also searched Marquette’s person and discovered 20 and one half blue M30 pills that typically contain fentanyl, the charges state. 

A search of the bedroom led to the discovery of a ledger notebook containing drug sales information, a plastic container with an off-white substance consistent with cocaine or fentanyl, plastic baggies containing an off-white substance packaged in quantities typical for drug sales, a digital scale and other drug paraphernalia, according to the complaint. 

In all, deputies seized the M30 pills, 14.3 grams of a substance that tested positive for methamphetamine and 7.7 grams of a substance that tested positive for fentanyl that was spread throughout multiple baggies, the charges say. 

Marquette was charged Thursday with two counts of second-degree drug sales, a count of second-degree drug possession and a count of third-degree drug possession. His bail was set Friday morning at $100,000 without conditions. 

Court records indicate Marquette has a criminal history that dates back to 2012 and includes felony convictions for domestic assault, malicious punishment of a child, theft, fleeing and drug possession.

Story updated to include Marquette's bail amount

More Minnesota News:

• Minnesota Pedestrian Struck on Hwy. 52 Suffers Severe Injuries 
• Statewide Alert Issued for Missing Vulnerable Minnesota Man
• Random Rochester Stabber Found Not Guilty Due to Mental Illness