UPDATE: Rochester woman adds new drug, driving charges

(ABC 6 News) – A Rochester woman added another set of drug possession and driving after license revocations to her list of cases in Olmsted County Court.

Kirsten Elaine Hart, 32, faces the new charges after being recognized and pulled over by Rochester police in the area of 2nd Street and 13th Avenue SW Wednesday, Nov. 23.

Hart admitted that her driver’s license had been revoked previously, according to court records.

The officer claimed he saw a burnt plastic straw “commonly used to smoke controlled substances” when Hart exited her vehicle and found a baggie with a white powder in the coin tray, which tested presumptively positive for fentanyl.

Hart is scheduled to stand trial for five similar cases in May of 2023.

(ABC 6 News) – A Rochester woman, arrested in Byron Saturday, appeared in court Monday on multiple drug and driving charges.

Kirsten Elaine Hart was taken into custody July 30 after an Olmsted County deputy recognized her vehicle.

The deputy knew Hart’s driver’s license had been canceled and that she had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant in Rice County.

During the investigation, the deputy also allegedly found four hypodermic needles in a purse on the vehicle’s passenger seat, one of which tested positive for heroin.

Hart is accused of 5th-degree controlled substance possession and driving after license cancellation. 

She was previously convicted of 5th-degree controlled substance crimes in May and October of 2021, according to her criminal complaint from July 30.

Additionally, Hart will face three other charges of driving after license cancellation and one charge of possession of hypodermic needles in trial May 2023.