St. Paul’s Western District has experienced an increase in drug and quality-of-life crimes along the University Corridor. In response, St. Paul Police have been monitoring the area with dedicated police personnel. On 2025-09-20 at about 12:54, St. Paul Police saw a Toyota Corolla (MN/MMR378) fail to signal a turn and commit other traffic violations. The officer initiated a traffic stop at University Ave/Milton St in St. Paul, Ramsey County. When the officer approached the vehicle, the rear left passenger, later identified as Victor Luis MARTINEZ ([DOB REDACTED]), was pretending to be asleep and holding a brown bag close to his body.
The driver was identified as Dontay Lee CARAWAY ([DOB REDACTED]). CARAWAY’s driver’s license was Cancelled-lPS. CARAWAY was removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest. During a search incident to arrest, police found drug paraphernalia in his pockets and a clear baggie of suspected narcotics near the elastic in his underwear. The substance later tested positive for fentanyl with a net weight of.15 grams. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, police found a black zipper case in the brown bag that MARTINEZ had been holding.
In the case, police found drug paraphernalia, a Ziplock bag containing suspected narcotics, and a jar containing a baggie of more suspected narcotics. MARTINEZ was arrested. In a post-Miranda interview, MARTINEZ admitted that the brown bag was his. The substance in the Ziplock later tested positive for methamphetamine with a net weight of.91 grams. The substance in the jar later tested positive for cocaine with a net weight of 1.0 grams.
