A Grand Forks man spotted driving a known stolen vehicle this weekend was also selling methamphetamine, according charges filed in Grand Forks County District Court Monday.
Alexander James Randle, 22, has been charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a Class A felony, theft of property and possession of drug paraphernalia, both Class C felonies, and false reports to law enforcement, a misdemeanor, after being arrested Saturday night. He made his initial appearance in court Monday.
According to an affidavit, police witnessed a blue Ford F-150 pickup that matched the description of a stolen vehicle at 10:50 Saturday night near the 2100 block of 17th Avenue South being driven by a white man in a dark blue hat. After running the license plate, officers confirmed that the truck had been reported stolen.
Police found the truck parked in the Columbia Park Village apartment lot, and identified a man walking toward the Holiday Gas Station on South Columbia Road who fit the description of the man driving the truck.
When officers talked to the man he originally identified himself as Alexander James Larson and gave a false birthday, but when officers were unable to find the name in their system he admitted his name was Alexander James Randle. Police found he had multiple outstanding warrants.
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A search of Randle's belongings found 0.2 grams of a crystallized substance that tested positive for methamphetamine, multiple small bags containing a combined 0.6 grams of a white substance, a small bag with a bulldog logo containing white powder, a digital scale and a syringe. Police also found tin foil with brown residue, which was believed to be heroin but did not test positive as such. Randle also had a the key to the stolen F-150 in his pocket, police say.
The affidavit states officers used the key to start the truck.
