Local drug sting nets 12 arrests

More arrests expected in next few days

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Twelve people were charged with controlled substance crimes following a slew of arrests made by local police on Thursday.

The arrests capped a four-month investigation into the sale of illegal narcotics in New Ulm, police said.

All 12 people are presently in custody at the Brown County jail and are awaiting arraignment today on felony narcotics charges in Brown County District Court.

New Ulm Police Chief Erv Weinkauf said Thursday that he anticipates more arrests within the next several days.

Police began the investigation this summer with the help of citizens who arranged and made purchases of marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine while under police surveillance. A half-ounce of marijuana, four grams of methamphetamine and 20.5 grams of cocaine were purchased by the "cooperating individuals," court documents said.

Weinkauf said the arrests were mostly made by three teams of three officers each at a number of different places in New Ulm although two suspects were arrested in the Mankato area. He said all of the arrests were made without incident.

Charges range from the first-degree to the fifth-degree controlled substance crimes. All of the charges are felonies. Maximum sentences range from 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine for a first-degree charge to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine for a fifth-degree charge.

Charged are:

* Shannon Lee Abel, 20, of New Ulm; with one second-degree charge.

* David Scott Apitz, 23, of New Ulm; with one third-degree charge.

* Ashley Jean Arndt, 19, of New Ulm; with one second-degree charge.

* Ryan Earl Berndt, 19, of New Ulm; with two, fifth-degree charge.

* Beau Brandon Carbert, of New Ulm; with one fifth-degree charge.

* Casey Shawn Coil, of New Ulm; with one fifth-degree charge.

* Kristopher Patrick Gramentz, 19, of New Ulm; with two, fifth-degree charges.

* Jose Octavio Herrera, 22, of Cleveland, Minn.; with one first-degree charge.

* Nicole Donna Lewis, 32, of Lehillier; with two, third-degree charges.

* Kristi Kay Oswald, of Lafayette; with one fifth-degree charge.

* Chad Alan Savoy, 30, of New Ulm; with two, second-degree charges.

* Timothy Aaron Schroeder, 20, of Sleepy Eye; with two, fifth-degree charges.