WASHBURN COUNTY (DrydenWire) - An anonymous tip about a man passed out in a gray pickup set off a months-long drug investigation that would eventually lead law enforcement back to a Poplar Street residence in Spooner, WI, and to repeated discoveries of suspected methamphetamine, THC products, and drug paraphernalia discarded in the household’s trash.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Washburn County Circuit Court, the investigation unfolded through surveillance, K9 assistance, and a series of garbage searches before culminating in a January 2026 search warrant and multiple arrests tied to the home’s occupants and associates.
Four individuals are facing charges out of the investigation: Michael Johnson (63), Marie Kruger (55), Billie Jo Knutson (45), and William Hansen (63). DrydenWire previously reported that Johnson, Kruger, and Knutson received criminal charges following another drug investigation in Washburn County.
UPDATE: A second criminal complaint filed in Washburn County Circuit Court provides additional information regarding charges filed against Billie Jo Knutson, who was named in a criminal case regarding a lengthy law enforcement investigation into suspected drug trafficking in the City of Spooner, WI, that resulted in charges against multiple individuals.
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Last Update: Feb 10, 2026 8:56 am CST
