1/09/2026

ASHLAND - An Ashland man was charged in Barron County Circuit Court on Jan. 6 with three felonies—possession of methamphetamine, and two counts of possession of narcotic drugs—along with misdemeanor counts of possessing cocaine and drug paraphernalia. The charges stem from a Dec. 31 routine patrol at the Turtle Lake casino parking lot. An officer, checking a license plate due to the vehicle’s past drug involvement, had a K9 alert to narcotics. A search uncovered drug paraphernalia, including a baggie in 51-year-old Jason L. Saari’s jacket with 14.6 grams of a substance positive for heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine, plus another with meth. Saari faces up to 3 ½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine for any felony conviction. His initial appearance is Jan. 21.