On April 2, 2025, law enforcement officers with the Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport Police Department were doing proactive drug interdiction of inbounds flights at the airport located in Hennepin County, Minnesota. A certified drug detection dog was sniffing bags as they were unloaded from an inbound flight from LAX. The dog alerted to the odor of controlled substances coming from two separate but related bags. Both were large, black, hard-sided roller bags which were destined to Pittsburg. They were checked under the name Michael Hollway, who was later fully identified as MICHAEL RAMONT HOLLOWAY, DEFENDANT herein.
Investigators learned that DEFENDANT had purchased a one-way ticket within the last 48 hours. The bags were detained and a search warrant was obtained for them. When the warrant was executed, investigators recovered numerous vacuum sealed packages with a crystalline substance consistent with methamphetamine. A representative sample later field-tested positive. The total weight was 40.62 pounds. There were numerous additional unused vacuum seal packages and a vacuum sealer also in the bags. These can be used to break down larger quantities for sale.
Investigators learned that DEFENDANT was supposed to board a flight at Gate A14. They received a photo of him. Officers went to Gate A14 and observed a male who appeared to be DEFENDANT. Officers asked if he was Mr. Holloway, and he responded "nah". DEFENDANT then claimed that he forgot his ID at the checkpoint. Officers advised DEFENDANT he was under arrest and attempted to detain him. DEFENDANT began to pull away and attempted to break free. Officers had to request back-up. DEFENDANT struggled with officers so much that they had to take him to the ground.
DEFENDANT briefly broke free and attempted to get up. Officers were able to immobilize him. DEFENDANT continued to struggle and pull away while officers repeated commands that he was under arrest. DEFENDANT appeared to attempt to access his phone during the struggle, possibly in an attempt to delete contents. Officers ultimately gained control and handcuffed DEFENDANT. During the struggle, a sergeant suffered an abrasion to his left knee and a small cut on the back of his left hand. A detective felt slight pain and observed an abrasion on the top of his right wrist.
During a search incident to arrest, officers recovered 1.2 grams of field-tested positive cocaine on DEFENDANT'S person. In a post-Miranda interview, DEFENDANT admitted he purchased the methamphetamine in California for $750/pound and was going to sell it for $1000/pound. He admitted to a previous trip to California to purchase 20 pounds of methamphetamine. Officers recovered three phones from DEFENDANT and completed forensic extractions. The phone extractions revealed evidence of DEFENDANT participating in ongoing, largescale distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
