On April 14, 2026, at 4:52 P.M., Trooper Oswald with the Minnesota State Patrol was dispatched to a driving complaint in the area of Highway 61 and Interstate 494 in Washington County. The reporting party stated that a dark silver Lincoln sedan, bearing Minnesota license plate [PLATE REDACTED], was swerving over lane and shoulder lines. The vehicle was last seen exiting onto Glen Road in the City of Newport. Trooper Oswald arrived in the area, observed the vehicle, and initiated a traffic stop using emergency lights.
The driver did not initially pull over and struck the curb before stopping at a stop sign. Trooper Oswald made contact with the driver, identified as ANTONIO OSCAR VILLANUEVA, [DOB REDACTED]. Trooper Oswald observed that VILLANUEVA was unsettled, fidgeting, and had constricted pupils. VILLANUEVA repeatedly fell asleep while Trooper Oswald spoke to him. Trooper Oswald asked VILLANUEVA to exit his vehicle; however, he refused. Additional officers arrived on scene and continued to request that VILLANUEVA exit his vehicle.
VILLANUEVA was ultimately forcibly removed from the vehicle, during which he physically obstructed officers by bracing his legs against the floorboards and holding onto the steering wheel. Once removed from the vehicle, VILLANUEVA refused to allow officers to handcuff him, at which point he was tased. During a search incident to arrest, Trooper Oswald located a glass smoking pipe with suspected drug residue in VILLANUEVA'S pocket. VILLANUEVA was transported to Regions Hospital. Trooper Oswald performed a search of VILLANUEVA'S [DL# REDACTED] and learned he was Cancelled Inimical to Public Safety and also had active warrants from three different counties in the metro area.
While at the hospital, Trooper Oswald obtained a search warrant for a sample of VILLANUEVA'S blood or urine. VILLANUEVA agreed to provide a sample, which was collected by a registered nurse at 6:31 P.M., and later sent to the BCA for testing. On May 21, 2026, the BCA released a "REPORT ON THE EXAMINATION OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE," which stated that VILLANUEVA'S blood sample contained Amphetamine and Methamphetamine, both Schedule II controlled substances. VILLANUEVA has the following prior impaired driving-related loss of license incidents: Implied Consent Revocation, August 31, 2024 Implied Consent Revocation, December 15, 2022 Suspension, Criminal Vehicular Operation – Peace Officer Certification, on October 25, 2025 VILLANUEVA has a pending Felony DWI and Criminal Vehicular Operation case in Ramsey County (62- CR-25-7986) and a Gross Misdemeanor DWI case in Hennepin County (••-CR-••-••••). Both cases have had conditional release violations.
Due to the nature of the offense, public safety concerns, and the previous conditional release violations in other cases, a bench warrant is requested on this file.
