Rochester Traffic Stop Leads to Major Drug Bust, Gun Discovery

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A southeast Minnesota man is facing multiple felony charges after being busted with drugs and a gun in Rochester. 

See Also: Two Boys Arrested for Rochester Carjacking 

That’s according to a criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County Court on Monday. The traffic stop that led to the bust happened on Saturday. 

An Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped the vehicle for a traffic infraction, the charges say. 

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Winona, MN Busted With Fentanyl, Meth & Gun During Rochester Traffic Stop

53-year-old Tracy Allen Benson of Winona is charged with an aggravated first-degree drug count, one count of first-degree drug sales, a count of first-degree drug possession and one count of illegal firearm possession. 

The court document says the deputy stopped the vehicle Benson was driving in the area of 1st Ave. Northeast and West Silver Lake Dr. for a malfunctioning brake light. 

Based on Benson’s behavior, the deputy ordered an open-air sniff of the vehicle and a lawn enforcement K-9 detected the presence of narcotics, the charges say. 

Inside of the vehicle, authorities found a back bag that contained zip-lock baggies holding a large amount of a crystal-like substance and a five-shot .22 revolver with a label on the side that read “Switch Gun,” the complaint says. 

In Benson’s coat, investigators found a baggie containing a powdery-gold substance and another baggie holding 21 green tabs. Benson also had $451 in cash, according to the court filing. 

The crystal substance found in the baggies tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed a combined 536.6 grams with packaging. The gold substance tested positive for fentanyl and weighed 1.6 grams with packaging, the charges say. 

A test of the tabs came back inconclusive, but the court document says investigators plan to conduct additional testing on the substance. 

Court records indicate Benson has a criminal history that dates back to 1998 and includes convictions for third-degree drug sales, third-degree assault and felony theft. 

Benson made his first court appearance Monday morning. He is being held on $200,000 bail and is due back in court later this month.