Dakota County Attorney’s Office Announces Criminal Charges Won’t Be Filed in Pam Bakken Case
SOUTH ST PAUL, MINNESOTA— The City of South St. Paul has released an official statement regarding the investigation and case involving Council Member Pam Bakken and a December 2024 incident in which a 3-year-old child tested positive for methamphetamine after attending her in-home daycare. While the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has issued an indefinite suspension of Bakken’s daycare license, which Bakken is appealing, the Dakota County Attorney’s Office has decided not to pursue criminal charges.
According to a statement released Tuesday by the City of South St. Paul, the child had been in the care of Council Member Bakken’s licensed daycare on December 6, 2024. The child was dropped off at 7:10 a.m., transported to a local preschool around 8:25 a.m., and returned to the daycare by 11:30 a.m. Staff noticed the child was “very talkative, fidgety, and had a hard time focusing.” He vomited after lunch, prompting staff to contact the child’s mother.
Later that day, the child was brought to a local hospital, where he tested positive for methamphetamine and amphetamines. He told his mother he had eaten something from the bathroom rug that tasted “gross” and looked like an “onion crumb.”
Because Council Member Bakken is a sitting member of the South St. Paul City Council, the South St. Paul Police Department turned the case over to the Lakeville Police Department to avoid any conflict of interest. Lakeville investigators concluded their inquiry and submitted the findings to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office for review.
On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, County Attorney Kathryn Keena announced that no criminal charges would be filed.
"This decision was made after a careful review of the evidence," Keena said. She explained that the evidence did not meet the legal standard required to charge Bakken. Specifically, investigators could not conclusively prove that the child ingested meth at the daycare or that Bakken was aware of its presence.
“Even assuming the child ingested meth while at the day care,” said Keena, “the state is unable to prove that Ms. Bakken knew it was present in her home and that she intentionally or recklessly allowed the child to be placed in a situation likely to harm the child's health.”
Simultaneous to the investigation by the Lakeville Police Department, the Minnesota Department of Human Services conducted a separate licensing review. That review led to an indefinite suspension of Bakken’s in-home daycare license. According to the city, DHS—not the City of South St. Paul—holds authority over daycare licensing matters. Bakken is appealing the suspension, and a contested case hearing is scheduled for July 31 at 9:30 a.m. in Hastings, Minnesota.
The City of South St. Paul emphasized that it is legally restricted in what it can disclose due to the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, especially in cases involving juveniles. Additionally, city officials clarified that neither individual council members nor the council as a body has the authority to remove an elected official from office. The City Charter outlines specific conditions under which a council seat may be vacated, including resignation, felony conviction, or removal by legal action.
“We recognize the community’s desire for transparency and appreciate the public’s patience,” the city said. “We reaffirm our commitment to being clear, honest, and impartial in our communication about this sensitive—but ultimately private—matter.”
Written By: Will Wight
