Burnsville Woman Charged with Selling Methamphetamine Out of Garbage Bag

A Burnsville woman is facing serious drug charges after police say they found a large quantity of methamphetamine in her car, and she admitted that she planned to sell it.

Amy Kathryn Benson, 24, is charged with two counts of first-degree drug sales, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Each charge has a mandatory minimum penalty of a $30,000 fine.

Burnsville police were on routine patrol just before 12:30 a.m. Nov. 10 when they spotted a silver Lincoln Town Car in Burnhaven Park after hours, according to the criminal complaint.

The car matched the description of a car stolen the previous day from International Falls, and the suspect in that theft was Benson, the complaint says.

Officers approached the car and found Benson in the driver’s seat, with the vehicle running and a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car, according to the complaint.

Police also found a large garbage bag on the car’s back seat, with 110 grams – almost 4 ounces – of methamphetamine inside. In Benson’s purse, they found a glass bubble pipe containing residue, along with $1,298 in cash, the complaint says.

Benson admitted to police that she uses methamphetamine and planned to sell the drugs in the garbage bag, according to the complaint.

Benson remains in the Dakota County Jail on a $40,000 bond. An omnibus hearing in her case is scheduled Dec. 4 in Dakota County District Court in Hastings.