SENATOR'S SON TO BE CHARGED

STILLWATER, Minn. - Months after a traffic stop that outside
investigators describe as brimming with sloppy police work,
authorities have decided to file misdemeanor traffic and marijuana
charges against the son of U.S. Sen. Rod Grams.

However, the outside investigators concluded there was no evidence
that Morgan Grams, 21, received any special treatment in July when he
was allowed to go free.

Officers involved in the traffic stop won't face any charges but one,
Anoka County's chief deputy, is retiring.

Morgan Grams, 21, will be charged with possession of marijuana and
driving without carrying his driver's license. If convicted on the
marijuana charge, he could face a maximum of 90 days in jail and a
$700 fine. In a report released Friday, the outside investigators from
Dakota and Washington counties counted 15 instances where Anoka County
officers acted contrary to proper procedure. All three counties are in
the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. ``This whole stop was less than stellar
police work,'' Dakota County Sheriff Don Gudmundson said at a news
conference.

The senator said he hopes the report ``will end what has been a very
public and personally painful episode for my family.'' On July 14, the
elder Grams asked Anoka County Sheriff Larry Podany to find his son,
who was driving an overdue rental vehicle and was on probation for
underage drinking and driving.

Chief Deputy Peter Beberg stopped Grams, who was with two teen-age
friends. According to the report, an unopened can of beer rolled
between Grams' feet but Beberg did not immediately check the
passengers' ages or administer breath tests.

Two other deputies and a visiting Florida policeman arrived later and
found beer cans -- including one that was half-full -- and 10 pouches
of marijuana. However, the open container was not mentioned in their
original report and was not revealed until another report was filed in
November. One passenger, Willie Wichman, 17, was convicted of a felony
drug charge because nine bags of marijuana were found on him. Although
a 10th bag was found under the driver's seat, neither Grams nor the
other juvenile in the vehicle were questioned about the drugs, the
investigators said. Wichman claims Grams had finished a beer within 10
minutes before the traffic stop.

When stopped, Grams showed Beberg an expired U.S. Senate ID card. The
report questioned whether he used the card ``as a means of gaining
privilege from an officer.'' The investigators said they could not
prove the deputies intentionally ignored procedure to protect the
senator's son.

``It was so obvious there was so much miscommunication between the
officers at the scene that there was no way for a conspiracy,'' said
Washington County Attorney Doug Johnson.

Beberg, a chief deputy for five years and a 30-year law enforcement
veteran, has decided to retire. He also is the mayor of Anoka, a
position he intends to keep. Beberg would not comment. Podany said
they had discussed discipline but he wouldn't give details.