Sauk Rapids Man Arrested For Alleged Drug, Check Forgery Charges

SARTELL -- A Sauk Rapids man was arrested after he was caught allegedly using forged checks and having illegal drugs.

The incident happened just after 2:00 p.m. Sunday at the Sartell Walmart.

Sartell Police Chief Jim Hughes says an off duty Sauk Rapids officer noticed a suspicious man looking through different checks in his car and smoking what appeared to be an illegal substance through a glass pipe.

The officer alerted Sartell police and provided a physical description of the man as well as the vehicle's license plate.

When the officer arrived he entered the store and found the suspect at the register. The man was 32-year-old Matthew Lee, who Sartell officers had been investigating for several other check forgery cases.

The officer made contact with Lee who denied he was the person the officer was looking for, and was instead the person on the driver's license he had given. A closer look at the license showed it was tampered with and covered with paper and tape.

The two began to walk out of the store, at which time Lee ran through the parking lot, hid underneath a vehicle and was later arrested.

A search warrant was used on Lee's vehicle where officer found methamphetamine and receipts for purchases at the St. Cloud Walmart.

Lee faces charges of 5th degree drug possession, check forgery, fleeing from an officer and giving a false identity.