Andrew R. Jones

Pierce County Sheriff's Office

A traffic stop for expired registration led officers on a winding path to a significant drug bust on Wasson Lane in River Falls.

Andrew R. Jones, 23, River Falls, was ordered to pay $2,000 cash bail Feb. 24 in Pierce County Circuit Court on felony possess with intent – THC, possess with intent – fentanyl, possession of THC (second+ offense), maintain drug trafficking place, possession of methamphetamine and felony bail jumping. If convicted, he faces up to 25 years in prison and/or fines up to $100,000.

According to the complaint:

At 2:39 p.m. Feb. 21, an officer performed a traffic stop on Jones at Kwik Trip (1536 Cemetery Road, River Falls) for expired registration. While talking to Jones, who said he was heading home after picking up some pizza, a strong marijuana smell emanated from the vehicle. When asked about the scent, Jones said he hadn’t smoked any marijuana in months.

When police patted Jones down before placing him in the squad, they located a large wad of cash in his front pocket. He told officers he works on weekends when asked why he had so much cash.

In the vehicle, officers found three THC vape carts and a large bundle of cash in the center console, prompting police to arrest Jones, who had an open felony case out of St. Croix County. He was arrested for felony bail jumping and felony possession of THC. The cash police found on Jones and in the vehicle totaled $14,086. A Pierce County deputy informed River Falls police he had stopped Jones on Feb. 2, who at that time was carrying $5,000 cash. Because of the large amounts of cash found with Jones, who does not have a regular job, and because of the marijuana smell coming from the vehicle during both stops, officers applied for a search warrant for his phone.

In 117 photos and videos taken between Jan. 1 and Feb. 22, appeared large plastic cylindrical containers full of green buds, a scale and multiple types of glass, plastic and rubber containers containing a waxy substance (THC wax). Other videos showed a cylindrical container full of dried Pyscobin mushrooms, Jones’ holding large stacks of cash, vape cartridges and more green buds. Other photos showed his apartment number and his mailbox. Numerous text messages requested different types of THC, including wax and buds, with video replies of Jones holding different types of marijuana. This prompted police to apply for and receive a search warrant for his apartment at 523 S. Wasson Lane.

On Feb. 22, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, River Falls Police Department and St. Croix Valley Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at the apartment, where Jones lives alone. When police arrived, they found a camera sitting on the windowsill pointed toward the parking lot.

Scattered throughout the apartment were numerous glass smoking devices (bongs), containers holding wax, rolling papers and lighters. The bathroom housed seven plastic containers full of marijuana, along with a scale.

Officers also found blue pills that tested positive for fentanyl, chocolates filled with marijuana, several cylinders of marijuana labeled by strain, a small bag that tested positive for methamphetamine, a ledger, Adderall, $5,980 in cash, m30 pills (counterfeit Percocet) containing fentanyl, and multiple THC vape cartridges and wax containers. The total amount of marijuana seized (with packaging) weighed 4,294.6 grams.

Jones is set to appear in Pierce County Circuit Court for a status conference at 2 p.m. March 27.