An adult female (“Victim”) told Officers that Joy Isabella Meyers, [DOB REDACTED] (“Defendant”), took her Ford Escape (“Vehicle”) without permission. Victim said Defendant took the ignition key for Vehicle off her key ring. Victim [NAME REDACTED] did not have permission to take Vehicle and that Defendant did not regularly drive Vehicle. Victim believed Defendant took Vehicle because Defendant had recently been charged with a DWI and Defendant’s car had its license plates removed. Victim [NAME REDACTED] had been drinking and was intoxicated when she took Vehicle.
Victim [NAME REDACTED] was likely driving to a nearby liquor store or her boyfriend’s house. Officers observed Vehicle parked outside the nearby liquor store. Defendant is seen leaving the liquor store and getting into the driver’s seat of Vehicle. Officers began following Vehicle. Vehicle is observed weaving within its lane of traffic. Officers activated their emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop. Vehicle did not stop. Officers activated their siren. Vehicle continued to drive for half a block before pulling into the driveway of Defendant’s boyfriend’s house.
Officers parked behind vehicle and approached Defendant. Officers asked Defendant for her driver’s license and insurance. Defendant did not have her driver’s license and could not produce insurance information. Defendant told Officers she was coming from her mother’s house. Defendant did not tell Officers she had just left the liquor store. Officers could smell the odor of alcoholic beverages on Defendant, and her eyes were bloodshot and watery. Officers observed that Defendant had poor dexterity and her speech was slurred.
Officers had Defendant step out of the vehicle to perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests. Officers performed the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test. Officers observed six of the six possible indicators of impairment. Defendant also had problems following instructions for the test. Based on the weather conditions, Officers did not conduct other field tests but requested that Defendant take a Preliminary Breath Test. Defendant agreed to the test and provided a sample of 0.273% BAC. 3 ••-CR-••-•••• Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 12/8/2025 Officers told Defendant she was under arrest.
As Officers attempted to handcuff Defendant, she tried to pull her arms away and resisted being handcuffed. After Defendant was handcuffed, she continued to be uncooperative and dropped her weight on Officers’ arms and tried to pull away. Defendant refused to sit in the squad car and had to be forcibly placed in the squad. Defendant continued to attempt to remove the handcuffs and managed to unbuckle her seatbelt. While Officers were driving Defendant to the Winona County Jail, Defendant began kicking and slamming her head into the squad car cage.
Defendant’s legs were secured with a soft restraint and an Officer rode in the backseat to prevent Defendant from continuing to slam her head into the cage. Based upon Defendant’s conduct during transport, Officers drafted a search warrant for blood or urine. While waiting for the warrant, Defendant continued to be uncooperative. Officers put Defendant into a harness restraint device for her safety. Officers transported Defendant to the hospital to medically clear her before booking her into jail.
