On 03/05/2026, at about 0018 hours, St. Paul Police initiated a traffic stop after observing a vehicle (MN/LDV558) failing to maintain its lane and then fully crossing the double solid yellow line into oncoming traffic as it drove east on 7th St E. The vehicle was stopped at 7th St and Duluth St in St. Paul, Ramsey County. The driver was identified as Ericka Eve NELSON ([DOB REDACTED]). NELSON was stuttering when she tried to speak and had difficulty giving the officer her current address. NESLON said her license was revoked due to a DWI conviction and that the reason for her driving behavior was because she looking at her phone for directions.
The passenger, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was identified as Ernest Okyere LEWIS (DOB/1991-07- 20). The officer speaking to LEWIS could smell a strong distinct odor of freshly burned marijuana coming from the vehicle. LEWIS admitted that he had been smoking marijuana in the car before police pulled them over and pulled out a half smoked blunt from the center console. LEWIS then opened a hidden compartment in the center console and showed the officer a plastic baggie with marijuana in it. He said that was all he had left.
NELSON and LEWIS were removed from the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, police found tinfoil, meth pipes, and other drug paraphernalia. Police also saw marijuana residue on the floor of the vehicle and on the driver’s side door panel. In NELSON’s purse they found a couple wallets, multiple pieces of rolled up tin foil, lighters, a Narcan pen, and suspected marijuana. In one of the wallets, police found zip- lock bags. One of the bags contained a white and green substance that police suspected was fentanyl.
NELSON said she did not know what the substance was but got it from someone she knew on the "block". She then said she was trying to get into treatment. The green and white substance later field tested positive for Cocaine/Fentanyl with a net weight of 0.69 grams.
