On March 26, 2026, at approximately 12:30 P.M., Deputy Meyer of the Mower County Sheriff’s Office was patrolling the area of Interstate 90 and Highway 56 when he observed a 1997 Oldsmobile Alero (MN LIC/TVG053) turning westbound on Interstate 90 from Highway 56. Meyer knew DARREN ROBERT FROHWEIN, DOB/121768, the defendant herein, drove the vehicle and knew the defendant’s driving privileges were cancelled inimical to public safety. Deputy Meyer followed the vehicle and drove westbound on Interstate 90. When the vehicle was approximately two miles east of 28th Street NE in the County of Mower, Meyer drove up next to the vehicle and observed the defendant as the lone driver.
Meyer activated his emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop. The vehicle exited off westbound Interstate 90 and drove up the 28th Street NE exit ramp and stopped. Deputy Meyer approached the vehicle and identified the defendant by his first name. The defendant turned and gave Meyer a puzzled look. Meyer then asked the defendant why he was driving as he did not have a valid license. The defendant stated he was going to the food shelf to get some food. While speaking with the defendant, Deputy Meyer observed him to have jaw grinding (bruxism), twitching hands, and bouncing eyes.
The defendant continually asked Meyer to let him go. Deputy Meyer asked the defendant to exit the vehicle and perform the following field sobriety tests: Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus; Lack of Convergence; and Modified Romberg, fail. During the tests, Meyer observed the defendant’s eyes bounce as they moved side to side, eyelid flutter, jaw grinding, and twitching hands. After the tests, the defendant started to argue about doing the tests. The defendant then refused to complete any additional field sobriety tests.
The defendant was placed under arrest and transported to the Mower County Jail. During the search of the vehicle, Deputy Meyer located a clear glass jar in the center console containing 42.2 grams of green leafy cannabis. At the jail, Deputy Meyer applied for and was granted a search warrant for a sample of the defendant’s blood or urine. Meyer provided the warrant to the defendant and advised the defendant that refusal to submit to a chemical test is a crime. The defendant refused to provide a blood or urine sample.
The defendant stated that he was refusing because the last time he took the test to prove his innocence he got in trouble. A review of the defendant’s criminal history reflects a prior felony conviction for DWI – Operate Motor Vehicle – Any Amount Schedule I/II dated April 4, 2024 (Mower County District Court file ••-CR-••-••••).
