Rochester Traffic Stop on Hwy. 52 Leads to 1.5 Pound Meth Bust

Rochester, MN (RochesterNow)- Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office deputies made a large drug bust during a traffic stop early this week. 

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That’s according to Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office Captain Tim Parkin, who said Wednesday that the traffic stop was part of an ongoing narcotics investigation.

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Olmsted County Deputies Seize 1.5 Pounds of Meth During Hwy. 52 Traffic Stop in Rochester Monday Evening

Deputies made the traffic stop in the 6500 block of Hwy. 52 North in Rochester around 8:30 Monday evening. 

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Law enforcement located 1.5 pounds of suspected methamphetamine inside of the vehicle, Parkin said.

The discovery was made following a vehicle search prompted by a K-9 sniff, according to the criminal complaint

The court document also says law enforcement seized $2,320 in cash.

Driver Arrested

The driver, identified as 37-year-old Kerry Bittrich was taken into custody. Olmsted County Adult Detention Center records indicate he booked into the jail shortly before 9:30 Monday night. 

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Court records indicate the Rochester man is serving the supervised release portion of a more than nine-year prison sentence that was the result of a 2018 drug conviction in Steele county.

Bittrich is charged with first-degree drug sales and first-degree drug possession. His bail was set at $100,000 following his first court appearance Wednesday morning. 

Story updated to include information from criminal complaint