On November 21, 2025, the Carver County Sheriff's Office assisted the Wright County Sheriff's Office with the execution of judicially authorized search warrant at [ADDRESS REDACTED], [APT REDACTED], the City of Watertown, County of Carver. Benjamin Dean Bowers, hereafter referred to as the Defendant, was initially stopped and identified driving a Chevrolet Equinox (MN license JAS 810) near the intersection of Neal Avenue and County Road 20 in Watertown. Wright County Narcotics Officers first searched the Equinox and then the Defendant's residence.
An adult female, who had been a passenger in the Defendant's car, was released at the scene. Officers first seized a zip-top baggie from the Defendant's person. This baggie contained 124.4 grams of a white powdery substance. Next, a red backpack was seized from the rear of the Equinox. The baggie from this backpack contained 12.5 grams of a white powdery substance. This backpack also contained a digital scale and a clipboard with the name "Ben" on it. Following that, officers seized a bag on the passenger side of the Equinox which contained a glass tube with.09 grams of a white powdery substance.
The Defendant's phone was also seized from the Equinox pursuant to the search warrant. The phone was placed into "airplane mode" pending forensic examination. The Defendant was taken into custody following the search of this vehicle. The Defendant was provided with a copy of the search warrant. Officers then searched the Defendant's apartment where officers located and seized two small plastic baggies containing 0.9 grams and 0.2 grams respectively of a white powdery substance. Nobody else was present in the apartment during this search.
In addition, officers seized a "bubble stem pipe" commonly used for smoking methamphetamine. In total, officers seized approximately 137.1 grams of a white powdery substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Based on the specialized knowledge of these narcotics officers, the white powdery substance was consistent with being methamphetamine. The suspected methamphetamine will be be further weighed and tested by gas chromatograph at a certified laboratory for determinative chemical analysis.
On July 24, 2009, the Defendant was sentenced to a stay of imposition pursuant to Minn. Stat. 609.135 on a controlled substance crime in the 5th Degree. The Defendant was also convicted of Manslaughter in the First Degree (while committing a gross misdemeanor/ misdemeanor) on May 7, 2009, in Hennepin County Case ••-CR-••-••••. The State reserves the right to amend this complaint as may be allowed by the Minnesota Rules of Criminal Procedure. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 609.49., intentional failure to appear for duly scheduled court appearances may result in additional criminal charges, and in addition to any arrest warrant that may otherwise be issued by the Court.
