On February 13, 2026, around 11:00 PM, officers with the University of Minnesota Police Department were near the intersection of Como Avenue Southeast and 29th Avenue Southeast in Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Officers observed a vehicle travelling at 33-miles per hour in a 25-mile per hour zone. Officers also observed the vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign. A traffic stop was conducted. Officers approached the vehicle and identified the driver, and sole occupant, as Carolyn Marie Bania [DOB REDACTED] (“Defendant”). While speaking with Defendant, officers observed an odor of a consumed alcoholic beverage emanating from the vehicle.
Defendant’s speech was slurred and her eyes were bloodshot and glassy. Defendant admitted to drinking one beer that night. Defendant exited the vehicle and performed Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (“SFSTs”). Defendant showed multiple clues of impairment. Officers then administered a preliminary breath test (“PBT”). The PBT registered a blood alcohol content (“BAC”) of 0.164. Defendant was arrested. Officers obtained a search warrant (“the Warrant”) for a sample of Defendant’s blood. Defendant was later brought to the Hennepin County Medical Center whereby the Warrant was executed and a sample (“the Sample”) of Defendant’s blood was obtained.
The Sample was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (“BCA”) for analysis. On March 3, 2026, the BCA found that the Sample contained ethyl alcohol with a concentration of 0.166. Officers searched Defendant’s person. In Defendant’s front right pocket, officers found a black metal tin. Inside of the tin was a white powdery substance. The white powdery substance was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (“BCA”) for analysis. On April 2, 2026, the BCA found that the white powdery substance contained cocaine, a schedule-II controlled substance, and weighed 0.886-grams.
Officers also searched Defendant’s vehicle. Under the driver’s seat officers found seven small plastic baggies each of which contained a white powdery substance. These substances were sent to the BCA for analysis. The BCA found that the substances contained cocaine and weighed 6.481-grams. In a purse, on the front passenger’s seat, officers discovered several baggies which contained a white powdery substance. These substances were sent to the BCA. The BCA found that these substances contained cocaine and weighed 18.245-grams.
