A Hastings man is facing felony drug charges after police say a June 16 overdose call led officers to fentanyl, methamphetamine and two firearms.
Joshua Thomas Loiacano was charged in Dakota County District Court following the early morning incident, which began when Hastings police were called to a residence for a reported drug overdose. The call came in at approximately 7:15 a.m., according to the criminal complaint.
When officers arrived, they found the person who had reportedly overdosed, along with several other people inside the residence. Loiacano was among those present, according to the complaint.
Police continued investigating the overdose call, and during that investigation, Loiacano allegedly left the residence. Officers later learned he may have been connected to the circumstances surrounding the overdose and found him nearby.
What started as an overdose response then turned into a separate arrest, according to the complaint.
Officers reported seeing a piece of tinfoil inside Loiacano’s fanny pack. Based on their training and experience, officers recognized tinfoil as an item commonly associated with storing or using controlled substances.
When officers tried to retrieve the tinfoil, Loiacano allegedly moved away from them. The complaint states he attempted to pull free, then tried to run after officers told him he was under arrest.
Police say a struggle followed before officers were able to bring Loiacano to the ground and take him into custody.
During the arrest, officers allegedly found a firearm inside Loiacano’s fanny pack. Police also searched a body bag he was carrying and allegedly found a second firearm inside it. That firearm was described in the complaint as a loaded Glock .43-caliber handgun.
Investigators later determined Loiacano did not have a permit to carry a handgun, according to the complaint. One of the firearms recovered during the arrest had also been reported stolen.
Police also allegedly found suspected narcotics inside the body bag. According to the complaint, officers recovered five separate bags of suspected fentanyl. The bags later tested positive in preliminary testing and weighed approximately 1.00 gram, 0.98 grams, 1.05 grams, 1.05 grams and 4.33 grams. Altogether, the suspected fentanyl weighed approximately 8.81 grams.
A separate bag allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed approximately 0.58 grams.
Loiacano has been charged with two counts of third-degree controlled substance crime. Both charges involve the alleged possession of more than five grams or 25 dosage units of fentanyl. One of the charges includes an allegation that Loiacano possessed a firearm while committing the controlled substance offense, which adds a firearm-related sentencing enhancement under Minnesota law.
He also faces two gross misdemeanor counts of obstructing legal process.
Dakota County jail information connected to the same case also listed probable cause allegations for receiving stolen property, carrying or possessing a pistol without a permit in a public place, and obstructing legal process by interfering with a peace officer.
Loiacano was arrested by Hastings police at 7:40 a.m. June 16 and booked into the Dakota County Jail at 11:19 a.m. the same day. The criminal complaint was filed June 18 under court file 19HA-CR-26-857.
Bail was listed at $15,000 with conditions or $20,000 without conditions. As of the jail information provided, bail had not been paid.
The conditions listed by the court include no contact with any victim or victims, no trespassing within a half-mile radius of the victim’s residence, and staying outside a four-block radius of The Bar. Loiacano also may not leave Minnesota without written court approval.
The court also ordered him not to use or possess firearms or dangerous weapons. He may not live in a residence with firearms, ammunition, explosives or dangerous weapons. Additional conditions include no use or possession of alcohol or controlled substances, except prescribed medications, random testing, remaining law-abiding, keeping the court and his attorney informed of his address, and making all future court appearances.
Loiacano made his first appearance at the jail courtroom in Hastings at noon June 18. His next court appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. July 15 in Division 2 in Hastings for an omnibus hearing.
The allegations in the complaint have not been proven in court. Loiacano is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.