Man Charged with Heroin Possession Outside Maple Grove Store

A Minneapolis man has been charged with felony drug possession after police say they found him sleeping in a car outside a Maple Grove store, then fled on foot, dropping a bag of heroin from his pocket.

Wayne Allen Quinn, 35, is charged with fifth-degree drug possession, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, signed by Maple Grove Police Officer Shawn Watson, police were called to the store on Wedgewood Lane at about 2:30 p.m. July 25 to investigate a report of shoplifting.

When police arrived, the store manager told them that the woman in custody might be connected to a car parked outside. Police found the car, with two men asleep inside and two hypodermic needles visible on the front seat next to Quinn, the complaint says.

Officers awakened the men, asked them to step outside the car and questioned whether they had any involvement with the shoplifting. Both men denied knowing anything about the theft.

During the conversation, Quinn suddenly fled on foot, with officers in pursuit. As Quinn ran, an officer saw a plastic bag fall to the ground; Quinn stopped and tried to pick it up, then abandoned the attempt and kept running, according to the complaint.

A witness told police that she saw Quinn drop the bag, which officers retrieved. The bag contained .78 grams of heroin, the complaint says.

Officers searched Quinn and found two more hypodermic needles, according to the complaint.

Quinn is free on a $3,000 bond. An omnibus hearing in his case is scheduled Sept. 28 in Hennepin County District Court.