By Gary Dickson, Editor – Siouxland Observer

ELK POINT – A 51-year-old Le Mars, Iowa man was arrested at about 5:20 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16 just off a rural road in Sioux Valley Township in Union County on charges of a controlled drug, namely methamphetamine.

The arrest of Lance Jerry Rus occurred during a motorist assist by Josh Vander Bosch, a law enforcement officer with the South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks. According to court documents, Vander Bosch reported that he came upon a vehicle parked at the base of a steep hill “nearly in the intersection of 477th Ave and 312th St. There were three people outside the vehicle, picking up rocks on the gravel road.” The officer said that Rus, who had been the front passenger, had been acting nervous and exhibiting signs of possible drug use, which included a dry mouth, rapid body movements, body tremors and inability to sit still. Vander Bosch stated that Rus kept looking back at him while he was behind the vehicle in his patrol car.

“Rus and the others were picking up totally normal rocks and claiming them to be rare rocks,” the officer wrote.

Vander Bosch said he spoke with the vehicle’s driver who gave consent for him to search the vehicle. Rus was apparently in the vehicle at this time, so the officer asked him to step out of the vehicle. He said he saw a knife in plain view, so he attempted to do a weapons search of Rus. The officer said, “Rus kept moving his hands and moving away. Rus had a large amount of rocks and other bulky items in his pockets. He then consented to a search of his person.”

The officer said he found a silver cylinder tin in Rus’ right, front pocket and asked him what was in it. Rus at first stated it was personal stuff and eventually admitted it was meth. Vander Bosch said he opened the tin and found a small baggie with a white crystal substance that later field-tested positive for methamphetamine. He said he detained Rus at that time and later arrested him.

Vanderbosch said he conducted a full search of the vehicle where he discovered marijuana. He reported the driver admitted it was his for which he was later cited. Rus was transported to the Union County Jail where he refused to consent to a blood draw or urine sample.

Probable cause was later determined to exist for Rus’s arrest, and he was indicted by a Union County Grand Jury on Possession of a Controlled Drug or Substance, a class 5 felony. He has been assigned a court-ordered attorney and has had to post a $1,500 bond in the form of solvent sureties or cash. Rus’ arraignment will be at the Union County Courthouse on Monday, Jan. 6.

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Please remember, all defendants named in Siouxland Observer stories are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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