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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Duluth - Police Department
Mike Ceynowa, Chief of Police
2030 North Arlington Avenue • Duluth, Minnesota 55811 • www.duluthmn.gov
For more information contact:
Public Information Officer, Mattie Hjelseth at (218) 730-5434 or mhjelseth@duluthmn.gov
DATE: 2/2/2012
SUBJECT: Duluth Man Arrested for Sale of Methamphetamine
BY: DPD Public Information Officer Jim Hansen

NATURE OF INCIDENT: Duluth Man Arrested for Sale of Methamphetamine
CASE NO.: 12018124
INCIDENT DATE: 2/1/2012
INCIDENT TIME: 6:30PM
INCIDENT LOCATION: 900 block West 5th Street

On Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 at 6:30PM Duluth Police Department Investigators, Patrol Officers as well as Investigators from the Lake Superior Drug and Gang Task Force executed a search warrant in the 900 block of West 5th Street, the residence of long time Duluth drug dealer Rodney Allen Sutherland, 54 years old. During the search warrant investigators located controlled substances as well as other evidence of drug distribution. Sutherland was arrested on charges of 3rd Degree Sale of Methamphetamine. Additional drug charges against Sutherland are pending. During this investigation Sutherland sold methamphetamine directly to a Lake Superior Drug and Gang Task Force investigator who was working in an undercover capacity.    

Sutherland has been a long time problem in the Duluth neighborhood where he resides. The Duluth Police Department and the Lake Superior Drug and Gang Task Force have received numerous complaints from neighbors about short term traffic and drug related activity at Sutherland’s residence. Since 2006 there have been four separate drug related search warrants executed at Sutherland’s residence. 
 
Rodney Sutherland has four separate prior felony drug convictions;
 
  • 10/26/06 – 3rd degree sale of a controlled substance
 
  • 10/26/06 – 5th degree possession of a controlled substance
 
  • 10/26/06 – 3rd degree sale of a controlled substance
 
  • 07/19/07 – 3rd degree sale of a controlled substance  
 
 
While executing the search warrant for drugs investigators located a substantial amount of suspected stolen property inside the residence (Sutherland is known for trading drugs for stolen property). A second search warrant was obtained and Property Crimes was called out to assist with that part of the investigation. Further follow up to be conducted by the Duluth Police Department Property Crimes Unit in relation to the seized property which included laptop computers, jewelry, a large amount of tools, flat screen TV’s, GPS units, digital camera’s, video recorders, coin collections.
 
Sutherland is currently in custody at the Saint Louis County Jail in Duluth pending formal charges. The investigation is continuing. No further information at this time.