Hopkins Man Cuffed Near Lake Minnetonka Faces Felony Drug Charge

A 21-year-old Hopkins man has been charged with a felony-level controlled substance crime after being arrested by South Lake Minnetonka Police in Shorewood last week.

The criminal complaint filed against Romeo Deville Eady, signed by South Lake Minnetonka Police Department Sergeant Stephen Neururer, indicates Eady’s vehicle was stopped Jan. 26 after officers saw him driving near the Holiday station on Hwy. 7. Aware Eady had a revoked license and numerous unpaid fines for driving after revocation, officers approached Eady’s vehicle and reported smelling a strong marijuana odor.

Eady was placed in the back of a squad car, and a search of his vehicle revealed a digital scale and cell phone. Police say they found a bag of marijuana lying on the floorboard of the squad car when they returned to talk with Eady.

Police subsequently executed a search warrant the following day, Jan. 27, at Eady’s home on the 700 block of 8th Avenue in Hopkins. At least two bags of marijuana, which the complaint says matched the bag found in the back of the squad car the previous night, were found. A digital scale, what are described as “drug packaging materials” and $700 in cash were also found and seized.

Investigators additionally obtained a warrant for records of the cell phone seized from Eady on the night of his arrest. Court documents say the phone contained several text messages “setting up narcotics transactions.”

In all, about 42.5 grams of marijuana was seized—less than two ounces.

Eady faces one fifth-degree controlled substance charge, a felony, for possession with intent to sell. The sentence guidelines for the charge are up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.