Excelsior Man Charged with Cocaine Possession

An Excelsior man has been charged with drug possession after police say they found cocaine in his sock when he was pulled over in Deephaven.

Bruce John Earlewine, 57, is charged with third-degree drug possession, a felony with a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, compiled by Deephaven Police Officer Chris Whiteside, an officer pulled over Earlewine’s car on April 8 after noticing that the right brake light was out.

When the officer checked Earlewine’s license plate, he discovered that the registered owner—Earlewine—had a revoked driver’s license.

An officer approached the vehicle and spoke to Earlewine, who admitted that he had no insurance and was driving with a revoked license, according to Whiteside’s account.

Earlewine’s criminal history showed two convictions for driving without insurance within the last 10 years.

After Earlewine’s arrest, an officer found five grams of cocaine in his sock, according to the complaint. Earlewine told police that he had just bought the cocaine from his dealer before he was pulled over, the complaint says.

Earlewine is free on a $10,000 bond. An omnibus hearing in his case is scheduled May 15 in Hennepin County District Court.