On March 20, 2026, at approximately 11:25 A.M., Trooper Runnells of the Minnesota State Patrol responded to a report of a gun pointing incident on Highway 63 in the County of Mower. The reporting party advised that the driver of a black Lincoln (MN LIC/RYU611) was waving a gun, swerving over lane lines and into oncoming traffic. The reporting party advised that they traveled through Stewartville and were north of Interstate 90. Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office located the suspect vehicle and initiated a high risk stop on the exit ramp to 48th Street in Rochester.
The driver, DENNIS EDWARD GIRARD, DOB/040648, the defendant herein, was detained. Trooper Cobban informed the defendant why he was stopped. The defendant stated that he was being tailgated so he raised his gun in the air inside his vehicle. The defendant denied pointing the gun at the victim(s). When asked where the gun was, the defendant told the trooper it was none of his business. During the search of the defendant’s vehicle, troopers located a SCCY CPX-1 9mm handgun in the glove compartment. The 9mm handgun had a loaded magazine inserted in it and there was a second magazine located beside it.
Troopers learned the defendant does not have a valid permit to carry. Sgt. Bondhus of Minnesota State Patrol met with Victim A (an adult female). Victim A stated that she and her 12-year-old son (Victim B) were on their way to go shopping when the incident began by Mower County Road 8. She stated that she had caught up behind him and said that he was going the speed limit. She said that he started to slow down and was swerving and looking for something on the floorboard or passenger side of his vehicle.
Victim A said that the behavior continued through Racine and that he was also going over the center line. She said there was a white vehicle ahead of him and he “got on their ass.” Victim A said the defendant then grabbed a small gun and held it in the air near the passenger’s side head rest. She denied that it could have been his hand and said it was an actual gun. Victim A described the gun as black or gray. Victim A said she then told her son to look and that the defendant shook the gun a couple of times.
Victim A told her son to call 911. Victim A said she backed off, but then the defendant was swerving again, slammed on his brakes, and pulled over. Victim A said she went by him and then he got behind her. Victim A said she thought to herself that “oh s***, this could go south quick.” Victim A denied tailgating the defendant. She said she tried to stay “a half car length behind.” When asked if she felt threatened, Victim A stated that “if you’re gonna wave a gun, sure. I’m gonna say okay, Yeah, probably because people these days you don’t know and especially with…him swerving and digging and stuff.
Sure. Who knows what the hell he’s doing.” Victim A said she believed the defendant shook the gun in front of the headrest and then moved his hand behind the headrest and pointed the barrel of the gun towards her vehicle. Sgt. Bondhus then spoke with Victim B. Victim B said he saw the defendant’s vehicle swerving, slamming on his brakes, and the defendant reaching for something. Victim B stated that he also saw the gun in the defendant’s hand. Victim B said the defendant shook or pointed the gun for a few seconds.
