FAIRMONT — A Mapleton man is facing multiple felony charges in Martin County. Tyler Anthony Caputo, 28, has been charged with an aggravated controlled substance and firearm crime, which carries a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Caputo is also charged with two counts of drug possession in the first degree and one count of selling drugs in the first degree. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Caputo is also charged with a firearm violation after having been previously convicted of a crime of violence, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $$30,000 fine. Finally, Caputo was also charged with possession of a firearm with the serial number removed or altered, which carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

According to the complaint:

On June 7, 2021, an agent with the Minnesota River Valley Drug Task Force was in contact with a confidential reliable informant. The informant advised that Caputo was in Fairmont. The agent was aware that there was an active arrest warrant for Caputo in a case in which Caputo was convicted of felony third-degree murder.

The agent briefed law enforcement officer from Martin County and then set up in the general area where Caputo was believed to be, near the 600 block of Burton Lane. At approximately 12:17 p.m. officers observed a male party matching Caputo’s description leave an apartment complex in that area.

A Fairmont Police officer drove his squad vehicle to the area and observed Caputo, who was walking down the middle of the road. When Caputo saw the officer’s vehicle, he began to walk northwest behind a parked vehicle. The officer got out of his vehicle, removed his duty weapon from his holster and approached Caputo.

The officer ordered Caputo to show his hands. Caputo did not comply with the order. The officer continued to order Caputo to show his hands and eventually, Caputo complied.

Caputo was placed under arrest. Another officer patted Caputo down for weapons, at which point Caputo advised that he had a shotgun in his pants.

Officers removed a 12-gauge shotgun from Caputo’s left pant leg. The shotgun was found to be loaded. The buttstock of the shotgun had been removed and officers discovered that the shotgun’s serial number had been obliterated.

In Caputo’s backpack officers discovered three bags containing a white crystal substance that field-tested positive for meth. The substance weighed approximately 127.5 grams. Officers also discovered a digital scale, numerous gem style baggies, and approximately 6.2 grams of a substance that appeared to be a synthetic cannabinoid.

On Caputo’s person, officers discovered a glass pipe commonly used to smoke meth, an insurance card bearing the name of Tyler Caputo, and $595 in U.S. currency. A review of Caputo’s criminal record shows a conviction for murder in the third degree and a conviction for fourth-degree controlled substance crime in 2016.