At approximately 2:15 A.M. On January 29, 2026, Wright County Sheriff’s Deputy Zachman saw a vehicle bearing Minnesota license plate [PLATE REDACTED] parked at Kwik Trip in Clearwater, Wright County, Minnesota. The side windows of the vehicle had dark tint. The vehicle remained at Kwik Trip for several hours. Deputy Zachman approached the vehicle at about 5:30 A.M. The driver was looking down or slumped, and the driver was fumbling around as if he was having difficulty figuring out how to open the window.
The dashboard lights were on, and the vehicle was dinging. The driver appeared nervous. He was sweating profusely and had visible steam emitting from his hands. The driver was identified as Ethan James Gallipo [DOB REDACTED] (hereinafter “the defendant”). He admitted using fentanyl the day before. Deputy Zachman saw white powder on the defendant’s sweater, which the defendant claimed was salt or sugar. When asked if there was anything in the vehicle, the defendant first said there should not be illegal substances in the car.
He later answered affirmatively. The defendant produced a burnt piece of tinfoil from the passenger seat, which he said was from yesterday when he picked up the vehicle. He said the person he purchased the vehicle from was also a user. Deputy Zachman noticed the defendant was rocking in his seat, fidgeting with his hands, and having difficulty staying still. The defendant’s speech was slurred. When asked to step out of the vehicle for field sobriety tests, the defendant admitted he had a meth pipe and produced it.
Deputy Zachman saw a white crystal substance inside the glass pipe, which later field tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 0.49 grams excluding packaging. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance. The defendant performed field sobriety tests, with some clues of impairment. The defendant was arrested. Deputy Zachman obtained a search warrant for a sample of the defendant’s blood or urine. The defendant was transported to the Monticello emergency room. He was informed of the search warrant and that refusal to submit to a blood or urine test is a crime.
The defendant consented to a blood test. A blood sample was drawn at 6:43 A.M. Lab analysis of the blood sample and the white crystal substance is pending. The defendant was convicted of misdemeanor driving while impaired on January 04, 2024 in Dakota County District Court File No. 19AV-CR-23-5696.
