On December 31, 2025, at approximately 11:48 P.M., Prior Lake Police Officer Amanda Ley was on routine patrol in the city of Prior Lake, Scott County, Minnesota, traveling westbound on Eagle Creek Avenue from Arcadia Avenue. While traveling westbound, Officer Ley observed a black SUV in front of her that was unable to maintain its lane of traffic. As a result, Officer Ley positioned herself behind the black SUV, observed several more center line violations, and determined that the SUV was bearing MN license plate [PLATE REDACTED]. Officer Ley then activated her emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop at Eau Claire Trail.
Officer Ley approached and made contact with the driver, an adult female, subsequently identified as Tara Leigh Schiffner, [DOB REDACTED] (hereinafter “DEFENDANT”). When Officer Ley approached, she observed DEFENDANT slumped over with her head down to her chest. As DEFENDANT rolled the driver's side window down, Officer Ley detected a strong odor of consumed alcoholic beverage emitting from inside the vehicle, and a slight odor of marijuana. DEFENDANT'S eyes were bloodshot, watery, and glossy. DEFENDAT advised that she was previously at The Pointe and was on her way to Mystic Lake.
While speaking, DEFENDANT's speech was slurred, and her movements were extremely slow and lethargic. Officer Ley asked DEFENDANT if she had consumed any alcohol, and DEFENDANT replied, "A lot." At the same time, DEFENDANT indicated she was not going to pass; this reference was interpreted to be regarding field sobriety testing. DEFENDANT then stated she had too much to drink, and had around five drinks. Based upon these initial observations, Officer Ley asked DEFENDANT to perform field sobriety testing, and DEFENDANT consented.
Officer Ley did not make DEFENDANT perform the Walk and Turn or One- Legged Stand test due to icy and cold weather conditions, and DEFENDANT was wearing very large shoes with heels and appeared unsteady on her feet. During this time, DEFENDANT stated she had just drank a "Jagerbomb" an alcoholic shot, right before driving, and had been consuming Jameson and Redbulls that evening. During the field sobriety tests, DEFENDANT exhibited the following: six of six possible clues on the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (“HGN”) test.
DEFENDANT also submitted to a Preliminary Breath Test (“PBT”), which yielded a result of 0.195. Based upon DEFENDANT'S driving conduct, the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage, numerous admissions to alcoholic beverage consumption, clues on the HGN test, and a PBT reading of.195, DEFENDANT was placed under arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence. When Officer Ley and Officer Rion Gillispie, also of the Prior Lake Police Department, were placing DEFENDANT in the backseat of Officer Ley's squad, DEFENDANT told officers that they were going to "find a bunch of s***" in her vehicle.
