Two felony cases were filed against a Scandinavia man.
Ronald K. Knapstein, 24, is charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and two counts of theft in one case and with selling fake drugs in the other case.
Both cases include multiple counts of felony and misdemeanor bail jumping because he was charged with three counts of forgery uttering in October.
At 3:24 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, Knapstein allegedly drove away without paying for gas from the Kwik Trip on West Fulton Street in Waupaca.
He was accused of a second gas drive-off at 8:54 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, at the Kwik Trip on County Trunk Q in Waupaca.
Security video from both stores showed the same Ford van with the same license plate. Police say the driver of the van from the County Q store’s video appeared to be Knapstein.
On Wednesday, Dec. 6, Waupaca Police Officer Dan Wasrud spotted the van turning into the Pick ‘n Save parking lot.
Wasrud approached the van and spoke with Knapstein. He asked Knapstein about the drive-offs, and Knapstein said he thought he had paid for the gas.
Wasrud conducted a search and found crystal-shaped shards in a pill container in Knapstein’s sweatshirt pocket. Investigators suspect the shards are crystal meth.
Knapstein said the substance was rock salt.
The officer also found a capped needled in Knapstein’s pants pocket.
Shortly after 10 p.m. Nov. 7, Waupaca Police Officer Tom Grant observed Andrew Tessen exit the vehicle from the driver’s seat and enter the store. Knapstein switched from the front passenger seat to the driver’s seat. Cory Quick and Tessa Reed were the backseat passengers.
Reed was charged with possession of methamphetamine on Oct. 13. Quick was placed on probation for possession of meth on Oct. 6. Tessen was placed on probation for delivery of meth on Sept. 21.
Knapstein was out on a $1,000 signature bond after being charged Oct. 13 with three felony counts of forgery uttering.
Grant notified other officers of the vehicle’s description and it was stopped at the intersection of Fifth and Lake streets in Waupaca.
Waupaca County Deputy Bill Zeamer’s K9 alerted to the presence of drugs.
Grant searched the vehicle and found three grayish pebble and five crystalline shards, one of which was half an inch long. He also found a used syringe in a duffel bag belonging to Knapstein.
Tests on the rocks were inconclusive for the presence of heroin, opiates or meth.
According to the criminal complaint, Reed said Knapstein is known for selling rock salt or kitty litter as meth or heroin.
Knapstein is currently in custody on a $5,000 cash bond with the condition that he possess no crystal-like substances.