Drug dealer threatened informant
Man sits in jail for witness tampering
Published Thursday, April 24, 2008
Jason D. Hanson
A man arrested Tuesday on drug charges could also face jail time for threatening bodily harm on an informant who played a role in getting the drug dealer busted.
Jason D. Hanson, 28, 125 W. Alcott Ave., Fergus Falls, is facing charges of tampering with a witness after making two threats against an informant buying drugs from the man while working with drug agents.
Hanson was arrested Tuesday night at 1121 Green Acres Way in Fergus Falls. Under surveillance of drug agents, Hanson was followed from his home on Alcott to the Green Way Acres residence, where he allegedly tossed into the back seat what appeared to be methamphetamine.
Hanson was also involved in drug deals on March 12, 14, 17 and 21, which had either been observed or recorded by drug agents from the West Central Drug Task Force.
Hanson is facing criminal charges in connection with the drug activity.
A day earlier the informant, who worked with drug agents on the Hanson case, called agents concerned for his safety.
According to court records, Hanson allegedly called the informant and left voice mail messages detailing a plan to harm the informant as retribution for working with authorities on the Hanson case.
Hanson allegedly read court records during the messages that detailed the informant’s involvement in the investigations.
Court records state that Hanson detailed a plan that included having people watch the informant around the clock. If Hanson “gave the word,” the informant would be kidnapped and taken to an already determined location where both of his arms would be broken. Eventually, the informant would be hanged, court records state.
If the informant was ever to testify against Hanson in court or if Hanson was ever arrested, he would make a call and put the plan in place, court records state.
During an execution of a search warrant Tuesday on Hanson’s Alcott Avenue home, authorities recovered the cellular telephone that the alleged threats were made from, as well as court papers, including some from the West Central Drug Task Force, that were read verbatim to the informant on the voice messages.
Hanson remained in the Otter Tail County Jail this morning. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 cash bond.