Pope County Dispatcher Accused Of Selling Meth

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) - A dispatcher with the Pope County Sheriff's Office is accused of selling 10 grams of methamphetamine.

Faline Yackel, 31, of Glenwood, was charged Monday with first-degree sale and possession of methamphetamine.

The West Central Minnesota Drug and Violent Crime Task Force said she was a probationary employee who had worked in the 911 dispatch center for less than a year. She was fired Monday after appearing in court.

"Methamphetamine is a significant problem in this country that our office is working diligently to combat," Pope County Sheriff Tim Riley said in a statement. "Drug-related activity within our own ranks cannot, and will not, be tolerated."

On Sept. 8, a confidential police informant met with Yackel at her home and purchased a VHS tape containing a methamphetamine baggie for $500, according to the criminal complaint.

Yackel's brother, Brandon, had sent letters from the Faribault Prison telling the informant how to pay his sister.

Yackel told police she knew there was meth in the VHS tape when she gave it to the informant.