Antwan Darcell Thomas, 26, was returned to Hennepin County authorities today after being taken into custody early Thursday.

Friday, July 07, 2000

Antwan Darcell Thomas, 26, was returned to Hennepin County authorities today after being taken into custody early Thursday.

According to a Mower County Sheriff’s Department report, a deputy discovered a man near a car in a ditch along U.S. Highway 218 near the Mower County No. 5 intersection at 6:15 a.m. Thursday.

The man was transported to the Austin-Mower County Law Enforcement Center for questioning.

He rebuffed deputies’ attempts to obtain necessary information, but a photograph found in the car, and a check with a female acquaintance verified his real name was Antwan Darcell Thomas.

Authorities then discovered a felony warrant for Thomas on a weapons charge.

He was booked on careless driving and giving false information and held overnight until Hennepin County authorities picked him up today to be returned to the Twin Cities.

Drugs discovered

A 13-year old Austin boy purchased stereo speakers from Ron’s Pawn Shop in Austin. When he took them home, he dismantled them preparatory to connecting them to other stereo equipment.

He found a plastic baggie containing an unidentifiable substance inside one of the speakers.

The boy’s mother took the baggie containing the substance to the Austin-Mower County Law Enforcement Center, where it was tested, and the analysis revealed it to be heroin, according to an Austin Police Department report.

Approximately 3.79 grams of heroin was contained in the bag and seized by law enforcement authorities.

The investigation into the incident continues.

Several years ago, local pawn shops agreed to comply with a city ordinance revision that requires them to retain accurate records of all items received for sale or loan.

The measure was taken to help interdict possible stolen items from the marketplace and develop cases against the people responsible for stealing them.

Austin police and Ron’s Pawn Shop owners will check over records to trace the sale of the speakers.