Three arrested in Rhinelander meth bust

Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and the North Central Drug Enforcement Group (NORDEG) were able to successfully apprehend three individuals who allegedly played a role in transporting a large amount of methamphetamine into the Rhinelander area Thursday, Nov. 20.

Shane Steven Brunette, 43, Kayla Hope Olson, 26, and Draven Xavier Warekois Gross, 25, all from Rhinelander, were the three individuals arrested.  

According to court records, Brunette and Olson are both being charged in Oneida County court with felony counts of possessing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to sell. Attached to Brunette’s charge is a “second or subsequent offense” modifier. 

No charges appear to be filed against Warekois Gross, though in one of investigators’ supplemental reports, he was found in possession of THC.

Both Brunette and Olson were placed on a $250,000 cash bond and Warekois Gross received a signature bond. 

According to the supplemental reports, NORDEG was investigating Olson and Warekois Gross for trafficking and selling illegal controlled substances within the Oneida County area. Investigators learned about Brunette’s involvement during “routine surveillance.”

Brunette, according to reports, was known to have an active warrant through the state Department of Corrections. 

Warekois Gross and Olson were known to drive a black Dodge Grand Caravan. 

Warekois Gross drove Brunette down to the Madison area and sheriff’s deputies, who knew the vehicle they were in was associated with drug activity, identified them when they were heading back into the Rhinelander area on State Highway 17.

The vehicle, according to reports, pulled into a Rhinelander hotel and law enforcement followed after recognizing Brunette was in the vehicle. 

As law enforcement exited their vehicle in the parking lot of the hotel, they noticed no one occupied the black Dodge anymore, but saw two male individuals walking alongside the “back portion” of the hotel. 

One of the males, Brunette, began to run and Warekois Gross stayed put after law enforcement advised them to stop. Though Brunette initially fled the scene, law enforcement were able to catch up with him. 

After both males were apprehended, law enforcement said in their reports they believed Warekois Gross and Brunette made contact with a female, Olson, in front of the hotel. 

Olson was seen going into the hotel wearing a backpack. 

Law enforcement made contact with Olson and asked where her backpack was. She told them it was in “the staff room” and agreed to let law enforcement search it. 

There was a second backpack near the backpack Olson allowed to be searched, according to the reports. She told law enforcement she didn’t know who owned that backpack. 

Law enforcement with the Rhinelander Police Department arrived with a K9 to conduct a “sniff of the staff room,” which resulted in “a positive alert on the backpack.”

In the hotel lobby, law enforcement went through the backpack and observed various items, including “a large quantity of methamphetamine.” 

Law enforcement, the reports say, then obtained video footage from the hotel’s manager. 

Video footage showed Brunette exiting the black Dodge “holding a rolled up jacket” under his arm and going into the hotel to meet Olson. 

Olson, the reports say, was carrying two backpacks and entered a bathroom with Brunette. 

Brunette exited the bathroom first and Olson exited the bathroom roughly 12 minutes later still carrying both backpacks. 

The reports say she then entered an employees only room where she left the backpacks. 

Eleven items of evidence were collected in total, the bag of methamphetamine weighed 225.7 grams. Other items of note included multiple smaller bags with varying amounts of methamphetamine in them and nearly 20 “hypodermic-style needles.”

An adjourned initial appearance for Olson is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2026 at 2:30 p.m. Brunette has an adjourned initial appearance scheduled for Jan. 12, 2026 at 2:45 p.m.

Class C felonies carry a max of 40 years in prison or up to $100,000 in fines, or both.

Trevor Greene may be reached via email at [email protected].