Detroit Lakes man sentenced for felony drug possession after 42 grams of methamphetamine discovered during traffic stop

Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – A Detroit Lakes man received a stayed nine-year sentence in Becker County District Court for felony drug possession and gross misdemeanor DWI.

According to court records, on Jan. 22, a White Earth police officer noticed 52-year-old Harry Edward Helps of Detroit Lakes drive out of a gas station without a valid driver’s license and notified the Becker County Sheriff’s Office.

Helps was pulled over by law enforcement on County Road 34 and the deputy noticed signs of impairment and asked Helps to exit the vehicle.

While Helps was exiting his vehicle, a member of the White Earth police department noticed a plastic bag with what appeared to be a white crystal substance, in plain view, next to the driver’s seat. The substance was tested and found to be 42 grams of methamphetamine.

Law enforcement also discovered a scale and multiple smaller plastic bags in the vehicle. 

Then, Helps declined to perform a field sobriety test and was arrested.

He was sentenced on Oct. 20, to nine years in prison, which will be stayed for five years while Helps is released to a chemical dependency program and placed under supervised probation