Courtland man arrested for illegal possesion of firearm, meth

A Courtland man with prior felony drug convictions is accused of illegally possessing a .22 caliber pistol, ammunition and methamphetamine.

Dale Geral Waibel, 55, of Courtland was charged with nine felony counts in relation to illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition with prior convictions and four felony counts for possession of methamphetamine, a controlled stimulant and opioids.

Waibel became the subject of an investigation by the Brown-Lyon-Redwood-Renville Drug Task Force (BLRRDTF) in May when the New Ulm Police Department uncovered texts between Waibel and a woman suspected of stealing a .22 caliber pistol from a residence in New Ulm.

Messages on the woman’s cell phone revealed that she was in possession of a .22 pistol and she asked Maibel if he would be interested in the firearm. According to the criminal complaint, the two came to an agreement over text where Maibel and the woman would meet so he could inspect the pistol. In later messages, the two appeared to be negotiating the sale of the weapon.

Upon receiving a search warrant, the BLRRDTF inspected his rural Nicollet County home and located the handgun he purchased. The firearm was loaded with six rounds of ammunition and three more boxes of .22 caliber rounds were found in the garage. Two of the 50-round boxes were full, while the third was partially used, containing only 32 rounds.

In the kitchen area, investigators located a few clear crystals on the table which tested positive for methamphetamine. Agents also located seven rounds of unknown ammunition, a 12 gauge shotgun slug, six 10 mg pills of dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride, a controlled stimulant for treating ADHD, in a plastic bag, a suboxone strip and an oxycodone pill.

Waibel has multiple felony convictions on his record related to past drug offenses and illegal possession of a firearm. In 1993, 1996, 1999 and 2022 Waibel was convicted of controlled substance crimes in the fifth degree.

Waibel was also previously convicted of illegal possession of a firearm or ammunition in Nicollet County in 2022 and is currently on pre-trial release for allegations that he illegally possessed firearms and ammunition on or about May 4.