On January 12, 2026, at approximately 1:03 A.M., Crosby Officers were dispatched to the above location for a report of a suspicious person attempting to gain access to an elderly care facility to visit his grandmother. Upon arrival, Crosby Officers were attempting to locate the vehicle and observed a vehicle turn its lights on and drive in the opposite direction from Officers. Due to the time of night and location, Sgt. Robert DePaoli of the Crosby Police Department believed the vehicle and driver to be the reported suspicious person attempting to leave the area and avoid contact with officers.
Crosby Police Officer Alan Booth stopped the vehicle on the 500 Block of Heartwood Drive, Crow Wing County, Minnesota. Sgt. DePaoli approached the driver and questioned him about being at the location. The driver admitted to trying to visit his grandmother at the facility, confirming he was the reported suspicious person. Sgt. DePaoli identified the driver as Tanner James Mills [DOB REDACTED] by his Minnesota driver's license. While speaking to Mills, Sgt. DePaoli observed Mills' eyes to be glossy with larger than normal pupil size for the amount of light being shone into the vehicle.
Officer Booth advised that he could see what appeared to be a marijuana pipe in plain view next to Mills. Sgt. DePaoli further questioned Mills about why he was attempting to visit his grandmother at this time of night, and he stated that he did not feel safe at home, as gas was leaking into the house and his parents refused to fix it. It should be noted that Mills' mother had requested staff at the facility call the Police as Mills may be mentally unstable under the influence of drugs. Sgt. DePaoli asked Mills about recent drug use and Mills admitted to smoking Marijuana approximately 13 days previously.
Sgt. DePaoli asked Mills why he was on probation and Mills originally stated it was an alcohol related DWI, but later stated it was a controlled substance DWI as he was a heroin user. While speaking to Mills, Sgt. DePaoli observed Mills appear to become slightly lethargic and slur his words while also having a hard time appropriately answering questions. Sgt. DePaoli returned to his squad car and checked Mills' driving record and observed 2 previous alcohol DWI's and 2 controlled Substance DWI's. Mills was actively on probation for gross misdemeanor DWI and required to have an ignition interlock in the vehicle.
Sgt. DePaoli returned to speak to Mills and asked if he had an ignition interlock in the vehicle. Mills stated he did not. Sgt. DePaoli requested Mills step from the vehicle to perform standard field sobriety testing. Mills Agreed. Sgt. DePaoli administered the horizontal gaze nystagmus test. During the test Sgt. DePaoli observed Mills' pupils to be constricting and dilating on their own and still appeared larger than normal. Sgt. DePaoli knows from his training and law enforcement experiences that this is an indicator of someone using 2 or more controlled substances in combination.
