On or about October 29, 2025, officers received information from a confidential reliable informant that a wanted fugitive, JEREL VALDEZ MARTIN, [DOB REDACTED], (“DEFENDANT” herein), was driving a black Chevrolet sedan in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Officers received further information that the license plate of the black sedan was MN TGL-735. DEFENDANT previously fled from the Hennepin County Government Center on or about June 24, 2025 during a sentencing hearing. Officers confirmed that DEFENDANT had five active arrest warrants.
At approximately 4:50 P.M. On October 29, 2025, officers located the black Chevrolet sedan via Minneapolis Police Department cameras at Union Liquor on Penn Avenue North in Minneapolis. Officers tracked the sedan and initiated a stop near the intersection of 27th Avenue North and Dupont Avenue North. Officers visually confirmed, based on prior contacts, that DEFENDANT was the driver of the sedan. Officers also observed a female passenger in the front passenger seat. Officers stopped the vehicle and ordered DEFENDANT and the passenger to put their hands up.
DEFENDANT initially put his right hand up, then dropped it down below the dashboard, out of officers’ view. DEFENDANT shifted in his seat and leaned towards the driver’s door of the sedan. The driver’s door opened partially, then immediately closed again. During this time, DEFENDANT’S right hand was not visible. DEFENDANT then put both hands up, opened the driver’s door, and exited the sedan. Officers arrested DEFENDANT. Upon searching DEFENDANT, officers recovered a small bag of a white, chunky substance.
Officers searched the sedan and recovered a firearm from the center console. The firearm was facing downward. Officers identified the firearm as a Glock 48 9 mm with a loaded magazine and an unfired round in the chamber. Officers also recovered suspected marijuana and a Minnesota ID card for “James Eric Peters” from the center console. “James Eric Peters” had a similar height, weight, and hairstyle as DEFENDANT. Officers field tested the white, chunky substance for cocaine. The substance tested positive.
The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (“BCA” herein) forensics lab confirmed that the white, chunky substance recovered from DEFENDANT’S person showed the presence of cocaine and weighed 1.983 grams. The BCA forensics lab compared DNA samples taken from the firearm recovered from the sedan to DEFENDANT’S prior known DNA sample. The lab confirmed that the major DNA profile developed from the firearm matched DEFENDANT’S known DNA sample. The BCA further confirmed that the firearm recovered from the sedan was a functional Glock 48 9 mm Luger with serial number CDEX099. DEFENDANT has prior felony convictions for First-Degree Aggravated Robbery in 2008, Third-Degree Controlled Substance Sale in 2008, federal convictions for Felon in Possession of Firearm and Unlawful Transport in 2011, and a Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm-Conviction or Adjudicated Delinquent for Crime of Violence in 2025. DEFENDANT is currently in DOC custody.
