The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

August 4, 2008

Credit fraud check leads to crack

By Dan Nienaber

MANKATO — Police officers investigating a report of credit-card fraud at a Mankato hotel ended up arresting two women for possessing nearly an ounce of rock cocaine last week.

Lisa Marie Zettler, 46, of Mankato was charged Friday with fifth-degree drug possession after a small amount of cocaine was allegedly found in her car. Members of the River Valley Drug Task Force were searching her car after about 27 grams of cocaine had been found in a room at the Microtel Inn & Suites on at the intersection of Victory Drive and Andrews Drive.

Two police officers were sent to the hotel at 4:11 p.m. after a manager called requesting assistance removing someone who was staying there, the criminal complaint said. The manager reported a person staying in one of the rooms had used a stolen credit card to pay $417 for a six-night stay.

When the officers and hotel employees went up to the room to remove the woman who had used the card, no one was there. So the manager unlocked the door and they went inside.

While there, one of the officers looked in a purse hoping to find the credit card. The drug task force was called when the officer found the larger bag of crack cocaine. The woman who owned that purse had not been charged as of Monday afternoon.

Zettler, the woman who owned the purse and a third woman were found a short time later in the nearby DeGrood’s Electronics and Appliances parking lot. Officers reported the women told them they had rented the hotel room to use cocaine, the complaint said.

A drug dog was called to the scene to check Zettler’s car. The car was searched after the dog alerted to a drug smell. That’s when the smaller amount of cocaine was found in Zettler’s purse, according to the complaint.

Zettler was released on her own recognizance after appearing in court Friday. Her next court hearing was set for Aug. 14.

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