On or about February 26, 2026, at approximately 6:17 PM law enforcement observed a silver Buick Lucerne (“Buick”) in the area of Highway 3 and Honey Locust Drive, Northfield, Rice County. The Buick was traveling 70 MPH in a 50-MPH zone and crossed the fog line. Law enforcement initiated a traffic stop near Highway 3 and County Road 1, Rice County. Law enforcement activated their emergency lights and sirens. The Buick accelerated to approximately 90 MPH in a 50 MPH-zone and drove through a red light at the intersection of Highway 3 and Hester Street in Dundas.
The Buick then turned onto Cannon City Boulevard and continued at speeds around 60 MPH in a 55-MPH zone. The Buick turned its four-way hazard lights and continued at speeds of 60 MPH. The Buick continued to a residence located at [ADDRESS REDACTED] and came to stop. The driver of the Buick was identified as LEMUEL DARWIN SWITZER, [DOB REDACTED] (“Defendant”). The Defendant’s registered address was the residence the Buick stopped at. The Defendant told enforcement that he did not want to pull over because he wasn’t home yet and that he was sorry.
The Defendant also said that he was “drunk as f***.” Law enforcement observed bloodshot, watery eyes and slurred speech while interacting with the Defendant. Law enforcement could smell the odor of consumed alcoholic beverages emitting from the Defendant. Law enforcement observed an open and partially consumed alcoholic beverage in the center cupholder of the Buick. Law enforcement also observed marijuana that was not in its original packaging behind the passenger seat in the Buick. The Defendant refused to perform standard field-sobriety testing.
The Defendant was brought to the Northfield Police Department. The Defendant was read his breath test advisory and given attorney time. The Defendant said he would not take the DMT breath test. There were two bags of suspected marijuana found in the vehicle. One was in a large plastic bag. It field- tested positive and weighed 64.55 grams without packaging. The other was a small plastic bag. That one field-tested positive and weighed 2.95 grams without packaging. The total amount of suspected marijuana found was 67.50 grams.
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.
