Warrant Issued for Grantsburg Man Facing Meth Charges

Warrant Issued for Grantsburg Man Facing Meth Charges

An arrest warrant has been issued for a Grantsburg, WI man who failed to appear for Court in Burnett County Circuit Court on July 12, 2017.

Richard Polinski is charged with Possession of Methamphetamine (a Class I Felony), Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Misdemeanor Operating a Motor Vehicle While Revoked following a traffic stop in March of this year.

The criminal complaint filed against Polinski states that officers found a white crystal substance resembling methamphetamine spread across the floor right in front of the driver's seat of the vehicle which Polinski had been driving.

A deputy collected the white substance and the pipe as evidence. Tests conducted later on those items came back positive for methamphetamine.

Polinski was scheduled to appear in Burnett County Circuit Court on July 12 for a preliminary examination hearing.

Public record indicates that Polinski did not appear and the Court authorized a warrant for his arrest.

Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.


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Traffic Stop Leads to Felony Meth Charges in Burnett County

Thursday, April 13, 2017 | by Ben Dryden

A Burnett County Sheriff's Office Deputy stopped a vehicle on March 24, 2017, for a broken tail light and during the course of the traffic stop located .24 grams of methamphetamine and a glass pipe used for smoking methamphetamine.

According to the criminal complaint, the driver of the vehicle was identified as Richard Polinski, of Grantsburg, WI. Polinski told the Deputy that the car belonged to Polinski's friend and that he was on his way to Frederic, WI. When the Deputy ran a check of Polinski's driver's license, he was advised that Polinski's driver's license was revoked. At that time the Deputy told Polinski that he was under arrest for operating after revocation and that the vehicle would be towed.

The deputy began an inventory of the vehicle to document it's condition prior to being towed, and during the course of that inventory saw a clear glass bubble pipe of the type which is commonly used to smoke methamphetamine wedged between the driver's seat and the passenger's seat.

The criminal complaint continues, stating that the deputy also saw a white crystal substance resembling methamphetamine spead across the floor right in front of the driver's seat. The deputy collected the white substance and the pipe as evidence. Tests conducted later on those items came back positive for methamphetamine.

Officers contacted the registered owner of the vehicle who came to the scene of the traffic stop. He told officers that Polinski had the vehicle for about 2 days. The owner was not able to locate a licensed driver to drive the vehicle away from the scene before the towing company had also arrived and took possession of the vehicle. The towing company stated they would need $50 to release the vehicle. After the owner of the vehicle said he did not have $50, Polinski said he would pay the $50. An officer on scene counted out the money from Polinski's wallet and that money was turned over to the towing company.

Charges of Possession of Methamphetamine (a Class I Felony), Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Misdemeanor Operating a Motor Vehicle While Revoked were filed against Polinski in Burnett County Circuit Court on April 5, 2017.

Public record shows that Polinski is scheduled to appear in Burnett County Circuit Court in July.

Last Update: Jul 13, 2017 9:45 am CDT

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