On July 12, 2025, West St. Paul Police were dispatched to a person slumped in their car parked in front of a tobacco shop located in Dakota County. Officers arrived on scene and observed the driver appeared asleep, leaning toward the center of the vehicle and breathing. Officers attempted to wake up the driver, later identified to be Monique Margaret Cleone R Nelson ([DOB redacted]), “Defendant” herein, who was mumbling in garbled speech. Officers noted Defendant’s arms were scattered with sores consistent with methamphetamine usage.
Officers noted a butane torch and sock next to Defendant which appeared to have a baggie with crystalline substance inside. Officers spoke with store employees, who noted that Defendant had been parked there for approximately four to five hours. Officers spoke with Defendant, who stated that she had taken two Oxycodone pills hours earlier. Officers had Defendant perform standardized field sobriety testing and noted multiple indicia of impairment. Defendant was placed under arrest. Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and retrieved the sock, which contained a baggie with a white powdery substance and two baggies with a crystalline substance.
Officers went on to find checks belonging to two different individuals, and a social security card belonging to a third individual. Officers subsequently contacted the three individuals, who all stated they did not know Defendant and did not give her their checks or social security card. Officers obtained a search warrant for a sample of Defendant’s blood. A sample was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal apprehension, which concluded Defendant had amphetamine and methamphetamine in her system.
