On January 7, 2026, at approximately 10:24 P.M., Wright County Deputy Pederson was on routine patrol when he observed a red Jeep Cherokee (MN-JRS290) exit the Caseys parking lot in the City of Montrose, Wright County and turn westbound on Highway 12. The vehicle had loud exhaust that did not blend with the overall noise of the engine. In house records also showed that the above vehicle was stopped on 8/15/25 and the driver Michael James Dalbec, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter the defendant, at that time was cited for driving after revocation.
Deputy Pederson pulled up a DVS photograph of the defendant and observed that he matched the individual driving and confirmed that his driving status was still revoked. The deputy conducted a traffic stop near [ADDRESS REDACTED] South, approached the vehicle and observed the driver to be the defendant. While speaking with the defendant, the deputy observed his eyes to be bloodshot, pupils not reactive to his flashlight, and have a slow speech pattern. NCIC information showed that the defendant was on probation through DOC for prior drug convictions and had been arrested on 8/19/25 for fifth-degree drug possession.
Deputy Pederson had the defendant exit the vehicle, and asked when the last time he had used, which the defendant stated he had last used methamphetamine on Friday. When asked if he had anything on him, he handed over a glass bubble stem pipe with a burnt white residue consistent with methamphetamine. The defendant was asked to complete standard field sobriety tests, which he agreed, and showed multiple signs of impairment while performing the standard field sobriety tests. At this time, defendant was placed under arrest for DUI. Defendant stated he had some methamphetamine on his person.
At 11:29 P.M., Deputy Pederson applied for and was granted a search warrant by the Honorable Judge Bollman for a blood or urine sample. The defendant was read the implied consent advisory and provided a urine sample at approximately 11:35 P.M. The defendant has a previous DUI conviction on 1/14/25. The white crystal substance weighed.25 grams and field tested positive for methamphetamine using TruNarc.
