On December 11, 2025, at approximately 9:30 AM, law enforcement was dispatched to I-94, near mile marker 176, in the township of Lynden, county of Stearns, state of Minnesota, on a gun pointing incident. Dispatch provided a description of the suspect vehicle as a black Honda Civic with Minnesota license plate [PLATE REDACTED]. Dispatch advised that Victim A, an adult male fully identified in reports, reported that an individual in the Honda rolled down the passenger window and pointed a firearm at him.
Dispatch described the firearm as a black pistol with a silver face. Law enforcement located the suspect vehicle and identified the driver and sole occupant as Ariel Amado Nieves, [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein. Law enforcement asked the defendant if there was a firearm in the vehicle. The defendant admitted that there was a firearm in the front passenger seat. Law enforcement located a small black bag and inside found a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol with a loaded magazine. Law enforcement made contact with Victim A who reported that he was driving on I-94 when he attempted to pass a semi-truck.
Victim A explained that he saw a vehicle coming up from behind at a high rate of speed. Victim A explained that he thought he had enough time to move into the left lane and pass the semi- truck. Victim A described seeing the vehicle rapidly slow down and that he believes he upset the driver. Victim A explained that he passed the semi-truck and moved back into the right lane. Victim A reported that the driver came up beside him on the left side. Victim A reported that the driver rolled down the passenger window and pointed a firearm at his head.
Victim A described it as a semiautomatic pistol with a silver top and black bottom. Victim A reported that he ducked behind the pillar in his vehicle in case the driver fired the firearm. Victim A reported that he immediately called 911 while following behind the vehicle and provided its license plate to dispatch. Complainant has reason to believe and does believe that all of the above information is true and correct. The above facts constitute your complainant's basis for believing that the above-named defendant, on or about the 11th day of December, 2025, in the Township of Lynden, County of Stearns, State of Minnesota, committed the offenses described herein.
