Golden Valley Man, 55, Charged with Possession of Crack Cocaine

A Golden Valley man is facing drug and DWI charges after police say they found crack cocaine in his possession when he was stopped for suspected drunken driving.

Kenneth Pettis, 55, is charged with fifth-degree drug possession, a felony with a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He also faces a second-degree DWI charge, for which the maximum penalty is a year in jail and a $3,000 fine.

A Minnesota State Patrol trooper was on patrol near Interstate 394 and Penn Avenue North in Minneapolis on Nov. 26 when he spotted a car speeding, driving 61 mph in a 55 mph zone, according to the criminal complaint, signed by Minnesota State Patrol Sgt. Eric Clausen.

The driver of the car, subsequently identified as Pettis, failed to signal as he got off the highway on Penn Avenue, and the trooper stopped his car.

The trooper noted that Pettis’ eyes were bloodshot and watery, and he smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the car, according to the complaint.

Pettis performed field sobriety tests, and his blood-alcohol content registered at .107 percent.

Pettis was arrested and taken to the Hennepin County Jail. When Pettis put his belongings into a plastic bag, he added a small white object, which turned out to be .15 grams of crack cocaine, according to the complaint.

Pettis’ criminal history includes DUI convictions in 1995 and 2008.

Pettis has been released from custody on a $30,000 bond. An omnibus hearing in his case is scheduled Jan. 29 in Hennepin County District Court.