On September 4, 2025 at approximately 5:43 P.M., Austin Police Department Officer Ted Sherwood was on patrol on Ist Avenue NW in the City of Austin, County of Mower when he observed EH MOO LA HTOO, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter the defendant, near 9th Street. Officer Sherwood had trespass paperwork for the defendant to sign and also was aware that the defendant had an active Mower County warrant for failure to appear on a gross misdemeanor offense (warrant #42244), Officer Sherwood stopped his squad vehicle and watched the defendant walk up to a car tire located near the side of a building and jump on top of the tire.
Officer Sherwood asked the defendant to walk to his squad vehicle, and she complied. Officer Sherwood informed her of the trespass notice, read it to her, and she signed the notice. Officer Sherwood also advised the defendant that she was under arrest for the active warrant, and he asked her to remove her backpack and fanny pack so he could place handcuffs on her. She complied and was placed in the back of the squad vehicle. Officer Sherwood also asked her if she had any drugs or alcohol, and she stated she did not.
Officer Sherwood searched the backpack and fanny pack before placing them in his squad vehicle. Officer Sherwood opened the fanny pack and observed a small brown pouch with a baggie inside it. He pulled the baggie out and saw what appeared to be crystal methamphetamine. Officer Sherwood read the Miranda warning to the defendant and asked her about the drugs in the fanny pack. The defendant stated the drugs did not belong to her and that she had "just picked it up with the tire." Notably, Officer Sherwood did not see the defendant touch her fanny pack at any time during their encounter until he asked her to remove it to be handcuffed.
After transporting the defendant to the Mower County Jail, Officer Sherwood took the suspected drugs to the evidence room. The substance field tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 1.2 grams in the packaging.
