A Steen man appeared in Rock County District Court Monday on drug charges after authorities recovered 6.8 grams of meth during his arrest last week.

Durant Blaine Kruger, 48, was arrested last week when he was caught throwing a bag of methamphetamines out the window of his pickup.

According to the complaint filed Monday, local deputies and members of the Buffalo Ridge Drug Task Force executed a search warrant on Kruger’s home in Steen Thursday, Feb. 25.

The warrant was issued based on information about controlled substance activity at Kruger’s house at 208 South Steen St. in Steen.

As they approached Steen, however, officers noticed Kruger driving out of town in his red pickup.

Deputy Kyle Kreun turned around when he met Kruger and followed him northbound.

Kruger reportedly crossed Highway 270 in front of oncoming traffic, and as Kreun approached, he noticed Kruger drop something out the window of the pickup.

Kreun stopped Kruger a short distance later and informed Trooper Lori Martinson that he saw Kruger drop something in the ditch. Martinson had been following to assist with the arrest.

After searching the area, Martinson recovered a bag consistent with what Kreun had seen Kruger throw out the window.

She photographed the bag, which contained a large amount of white powder.

She brought it to Kruger’s house where Drug Task Force officers tested the powder, which produced a positive result for methamphetamine. The bag and its contents weighed 6.8 grams.

According to the complaint, Kruger’s criminal history reveals a prior controlled substance conviction in Rock County from a Jan. 4, 2002, arrest for possession of meth.

He also has pending meth charges in Pennington County, South Dakota.

Kruger’s current charge stemming from last week’s arrest carries a maximum penalty of not less than two years and not more than 30 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.