Benjamin Thomas Braaten, 30, of Austin was charged with felony first-degree drugs-possess 100 grams or more of cocaine or methamphetamine on Wednesday in Mower County District Court.

According to the court complaint, Austin police officers executed a search warrant on Braaten’s vehicle on July 31, 2018. He was known to drive a 2011 Lincoln MKX, which was spotted heading south on Interstate 35 towards Owatonna. The vehicle was monitored as it drove south on Highway 218 and was stopped by police when it entered Mower County.

Braaten was seen in the driver’s seat. A woman was in the front passenger seat and an infant was in a car seat in the back.

A narcotics officer read Braaten a Miranda warning and provided him with a copy of the search warrant. He then asked Braaten where the methamphetamine was located and Braaten said it was in the glove compartment. An officer retrieved 123.91 grams of methamphetamine in the glove compartment.

Police also found 2.82 grams of marijuana, two marijuana pipes and a methamphetamine pipe in the vehicle and $962 in cash on Braaten’s person.

A review of Braaten’s criminal history shows prior convictions for damage to property, third and fifth-degree drug possession, storing methamphetamine paraphernalia in the presence of a child or vulnerable adult and violating a domestic abuse no contact order.

He is currently awaiting disposition for theft charges in Steele and Dodge Counties.

Braaten will appear in court again on May 2.