Man Found Groaning in Front of Walgreen's Now Facing Felony Drug Charge

A St. Paul man has been charged with a felony after police purportedly discovered methamphetamine on his person during a routine safety check.

Anthony Gene Oliver, 43, is charged with a fifth-degree controlled substance crime, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He also faces a lesser charge for giving police false information, a gross misdemeanor. 

Eagan Police were called to the Walgreen's on Town Centre Drive in the early morning hours of Aug. 29, on report of a man sitting outside on the sidewalk, moaning. The caller said the man had been hanging around the store for several hours and believed that he might be in some kind of distress. 

When police arrived, they found the man sitting on a box near the closed store. He said he'd been there since 3 p.m. that day. Some friends dropped him off, but had not returned. 

When asked for identification, the man gave police a name, RM, and a 1966 birthdate that did not match anyone in the system. The man then handed them a license with a different name, TM, and a 1965 birthdate. The license was shown to be suspended. When officers tried to confirm the man's name, he insisted he was RM born in 1966. He said "R" was his nickname but couldn't explain the discrepancy between the license and his stated date of birth. 

Eventually, he admitted his true identity was that of Anthony Gene Oliver, and said that he'd lied because he was afraid there might be a warrant out for his arrest. Officers searched his backpack and found a small bag, weighing about .3 grams, with a crystal substance that was later identified as meth. They also found a social security card belonging to someone else, and yellows from multiple driver's license applications, some with his true name and others with an alias. 

Oliver remains in the Dakota County Jail held on a $30,000 bond, which will be reduced to $15,000 if he agrees to abide by the court's conditions. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 24.