Meth arrest in Wadena

Sheriff Michael D. Carr reports that on May 13, the Wadena County Sheriff’s Office received information from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) advising of a suspicious package that was being mailed from Arizona to a residence in the City of Wadena. The Wadena County Sheriff’s Dept. and West Central Drug and Violent Offenders Task Force investigated the address listed on the package and learned the intended recipient on the package was not associated with the residence in Wadena.  

A search warrant for the package was obtained and agents located approximately four pounds of methamphetamine inside the package, with a street value of approximately $200,000. The above agencies, along with the Wadena Police Dept. and Central MN Drug and Violent Offenders Task Force, conducted a controlled delivery of the package to the address in Wadena. Sheriff Carr reports, after the delivery and investigation, Michael Gino-Ladon Ricks, 27, of Hanover Park Ill., was arrested for first degree possession of a controlled substance at the Wadena residence. Ricks was transported to the Wadena County Jail and made his first court appearance May 16 after criminal charges were filed by the Wadena County Attorney’s Office. Ricks is currently being held on $500,000 bail or bond without conditions or $30,000 cash bail with conditions set by the court.