CHARGES FILED AGAINST SIX ARRESTED FOR MANKATO DRUG BUST

Felony charges have been filed in Blue Earth County District Court after the seizure of thousands of counterfeit pills containing fentanyl in Mankato over the weekend.  The criminal complaint says the task force received a tip the pills were brought in from Michigan and then sold out of an apartment in Mankato that was rented by one of the suspects – Wynter Harrison.  A rental car with an out-of-state license plate was confirmed to be Howard Beacham’s, also a suspect.  When agents entered the apartment, the other suspects were there allegedly trying to flush the pills.  Authorities determined the amount of pills was high enough to be consistent with trafficking or sales.  All six were arrested and charged with felony first-degree possession and sale of drugs.  Beacham and one of the suspects, Kan Vanraalte who is suspected of actively dealing fentanyl around Mankato, were given a more serious charge of aggravated controlled substance in the first degree.