Local man charged with meth possession

On Monday, Jan. 15, Michael Speldrich of New Rockford was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

According to court documents, the arrest came after a 911 call was placed for a disturbance at a New Rockford address.

First on the scene was Eddy County Sheriff’s Deputy Alan Troy, who was reportedly told on scene that Speldrich had ingested meth and was talking to himself and hallucinating.

Court documents say Speldrich’s mother explained to deputy Troy that “the night before Michael busted her car window because he had seen Bigbird.”

From that point forward, court documents seem to describe a relatively calm exchange during which Speldrich was cooperative, telling law enforcement he’d taken meth earlier that day, and was currently in possession of both meth and a meth pipe.

“I searched Michael and found a small 2-inch by 4-inch black zip-up container with a clear greyish plastic bag tied up with a white powdery crystal-like substance in it and a used broken glass pipe also known as a meth pipe in the front left pocket of his coat,” stated deputy Troy in an affidavit.

Speldrich has since been charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance as well as possession of drug paraphernalia, both Class C felonies.

The maximum penalty for each Class C felony is five years imprisonment, a fine of $10,000, or both.

Speldrich is due to make his initial appearance in district court on Feb. 15 and is considered innocent unless proven guilty.

Meanwhile, a jury trial has been scheduled in the case of Loren Anderson, who’s accused of running down his live-in girlfriend on Highway 281 last year.

Court documents allege that Anderson purposefully crashed into his girlfriend’s vehicle head-on just north of New Rockford on Highway 281, following a domestic dispute.

Anderson was charged with reckless endangerment and terrorizing, both Class C felonies, as well as domestic violence and aggravated reckless driving, both Class A misdemeanors.

Anderson has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and a jury trial has now been scheduled for May 16.

Meanwhile, Anderson has also been bailed out of jail for $5,000.

That was after his initial bail amount was increased when it was alleged that Anderson had sent damning text messages while in jail.

The next step for Anderson is to undergo a psychological evaluation ordered by District Court Judge James Hovey.

If ultimately convicted, the maximum penalty for each Class C felony is five years imprisonment, a fine of $10,000, or both. Each Class A misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty charge of 360 days imprisonment and/or a $3,000 fine.

Anderson is considered innocent unless proven guilty.