MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — A veteran firefighter faces new charges after being arrested during a drug bust at a Minneapolis fire station.
Lawrence Wajda Jr., 42, has been charged with fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance, receiving stolen property and possession of a machine gun or short-barreled shotgun after police executed a search warrant of his Coon Rapids home.
Wajda was arrested last Tuesday morning at his University of Minnesota Fire Station, after a search warrant was conducted of his sleeping area and locker at the station and approximately 0.5 grams of meth was found.
Investigators searched his residence after the fire station and found traces of methamphetamine, a homemade bong and a digital scale with traces of meth on it. In the lower level of the home, police also found a loaded Glock and learned it was allegedly stolen from an address in Savage, Minn.
Police also found more smoking devices with meth residue, several more firearms in an adjacent room.
When questioned about the weapons, Wajda said he took them from “junk cars.” Wajda’s father owns (or has close ties with) a towing company.
