On January 5, 2026, Minnesota State Troopers were dispatched to a report of a stalled vehicle blocking traffic on southbound Interstate 35W near 66th Street in Golden Valley, Hennepin County, Minnesota. The call was later updated to a “slumper” vehicle. Upon arrival, Richfield Police officers were already on scene and advised Troopers that the driver, later identified as Zimri Eliah Alonso ([DOB REDACTED], hereinafter “Defendant”), was slumped over in the driver’s seat with an open container of alcohol visible in the center console.
Troopers observed the Defendant slumped forward in the driver’s seat, with the vehicle still stopped in the right lane of the interstate. Troopers attempted to wake the Defendant by loudly tapping a flashlight on the passenger-side window but were unsuccessful. Fearing the Defendant may have been experiencing a medical emergency, Troopers broke the passenger-side window and unlocked the remaining doors. Upon gaining access to the vehicle, Troopers detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from inside the vehicle and observed that Defendant’s eyes were bloodshot and watery.
After Defendant was awakened, Troopers conducted standardized field sobriety testing, which Defendant attempted, and Defendant submitted to a preliminary breath test (PBT), providing a sample of 0.136 BAC. Troopers informed Defendant that he was under arrest for DWI. Defendant was searched and placed in handcuffs. During a search of Defendant’s person, Troopers located a plastic baggie with white residue and a folded one-dollar bill containing white powder in Defendant’s right jacket pocket. An inventory search of the vehicle was conducted, during which Troopers located two additional plastic bags containing white powder on the driver’s seat and a digital scale in the driver’s door compartment.
All suspected controlled substances recovered from Defendant and the vehicle were tested using a NIK test and tested positive for fentanyl. The total combined weight of the fentanyl recovered was approximately 7.85 grams. Troopers transported defendant to the Hennepin County Jail. At the jail, troopers read defendant the Motor Vehicle Implied Consent Advisory. Defendant acknowledged the advisory and requested to speak with counsel. After being provided the opportunity to speak with counsel, defendant submitted to a breath test and a reading of.12 was obtained.
A check into defendant’s record revealed that on May 26, 2022, defendant was convicted of DWI, in violation of Minn. Stat. 169A.20, for an offense that occurred on May 30, 2021, in Ramsey County (MNCIS File No.: 62SU-CR-21-1353).
