Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

01/18/24: Crime, Courts, Accidents & Incidents

• Arrested on drug charges

An O’Brien County man faces felony drug charges after officers carried out a search warrant in Sutherland. According to the Sutherland Police Department, eight sealed bags of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and a digital scale were found on Jan. 11.

Dean Swanson, 58, of Sutherland, was charged with Drug Stamp Violation and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver or Manufacture, both class D felonies; and Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, misdemeanors.

Also arrested was James Brockshaus, 29, of Sutherland. He was charged with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Both men were released from jail and are awaiting their court dates.

• Slick roads lead to accident

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office investigated a two-vehicle accident that occurred east of Dickens on Highway 18, at 10:20 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 8.

The report stated that a 2003 Ford pickup driven by John Marcum, 39, of Graettinger, was eastbound and a 2011 Toyota Camry driven by Ally Montgomery, 23, of Arnolds Park, was westbound. The two vehicles slid into each other on the slick roadway.

Montgomery suffered minor injuries. Damage to each vehicle was estimated at $8,000. Assisting at the scene were Dickens and Ruthven First Responders, Spencer Ambulance and the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office.