Burnsville Police Stop Suspect with 'Misdemeanor Amount of Marijuana' in Underwear

A St. Louis Park man who told police he had “a misdemeanor amount of marijuana” in his underwear when he was stopped in Burnsville last week is facing a felony drug charge.

Darnell Cleveland Harris, 29, faces one count of fifth-degree drug possession, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. 

Harris remained in the Dakota County Jail Tuesday on a $20,000 bond; he is also being held on a parole violation charge. An omnibus hearing in his case is scheduled Dec. 5 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.

According to the criminal complaint, a Burnsville police officer on patrol stopped a car in which Harris was riding just after 2 a.m. Nov. 4 after he saw Harris fail to signal a turn and fail to stop completely at a stop sign. 

The officer detected a “strong odor of burnt marijuana” coming from inside the vehicle. Harris, who was sitting in the back seat, said, “Yeah, we smoked some weed in here,” the complaint says.

The officer asked Harris to step out of the car and began to pat him down in a search for weapons. He smelled “an overwhelming odor of fresh marijuana” on Harris, and felt what appeared to be two wrapped items on his leg.

“I ain’t gonna lie to you,” Harris told the officer, according to the complaint. “I’ve got a misdemeanor amount of marijuana in my underwear.”

Two bags fell out of the defendant’s pants leg, one containing a leafy green substance and one containing a pill later identified as Oxycodone, for which Harris said he does not have a prescription.

Harris’ criminal record includes three previous convictions for drug possession.