County supervisor charged with possession

• Cullen T. Peterson

Cullen T. Peterson

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A Pierce County Board member was charged last month with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Cullen T. Peterson, 25, River Falls, is alleged to have those two items while he was residing at South Fork Suites on the campus of UW-River Falls. His next court appearance is a motion hearing at 3 p.m. March 24.

According to police reports, a UW-RF police officer were called to South Fork Suites Dec. 21 as the resident hall manager and resident assistant were doing room checks. Upon entering 411C, which was locked, they discovered a green leafy substance and a small pipe in open view.

The officer inspected the material, which had an odor of marijuana, and believed mercury was inside the pipe. To clear legality rules, the RAs informed the officer they had a contract, signed by the resident, that allowed them to enter the locked room.

The officer took the tube to the UW-RF chemistry department where a professor confirmed it was mercury. The professor told the officer he would place the tube in a secure location until it could be destroyed.

Records later confirmed Peterson as the room’s sole occupant. The South Fork Suites address matches Peterson’s address in the county directory.

Peterson was elected last April to the County Board and represents Wards 9 and 10 of the City of River Falls. He sits on the Board of Health and Law Enforcement Committee.

The two charges carry fines of $326.50 for the paraphernalia and $389.50 for the marijuana.

Tags: crime and courts, river falls, area news, crime