On November 7, 2025, at approximately 9:55 P.M., police responded to a report of a vehicle striking multiple parked cars in the area of [ADDRESS REDACTED], St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota. Upon arrival, police observed that a Dodge Ram pickup truck crashed into the back end of a parked vehicle and sideswiped another vehicle. The vehicle owners were on scene and identified as NAS and NSS. There was significant (totaling) damage to NSS’s vehicle. There was superficial damage to NAS’s vehicle. A male, identified as TRISTAN JAMES WEST – [DOB REDACTED], was walking around the truck.
WEST initially reported that he was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the incident. WEST said his grandfather was driving and left the scene. WEST provided his grandfather’s number. The man who answered the phone confirmed that he is WEST’s grandfather, but said he was home sleeping. WEST admitted to driving the vehicle before the crash, and said he lied because he does not have a driver’s license. WEST said he felt vibration in the steering wheel prior to the crash and felt the front passenger tire fall off.
WEST reported that he tried to turn the wheel to avoid striking the parked vehicles but was unsuccessful. Police observed that the front passenger tire was completely removed from the truck, and there were deep grooves in the roadway prior to the crash scene. While speaking with WEST, the officer noted that his movements were lethargic and his speech slurred. NAS and NSS also reported their suspicion that WEST was under the influence. When asked the last time he used drugs, WEST said he was previously addicted to Xanax but hadn’t used in two weeks.
WEST reported that he one drink with his grandfather earlier in the evening. WEST complied with field sobriety tests. During the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, the officer observed a lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes, and onset of nystagmus at 45 degrees in both eyes. During the walk and turn test, WEST did not touch heel to toe and made an improper turn. During the one leg stand test, WEST put his foot down. WEST provided a PBT sample, which registered a 0.00 reading indicating that the impairing substance was not alcohol.
During a search of the vehicle, police recovered burnt tin foil, six Xanax bars, marijuana, a small amount of a white powdery substance (suspected cocaine), and a stolen license plate. Following a Miranda advisory, WEST reported that he has been addicted to Xanax for some time. WEST said he had court ordered treatment coming up and wanted to use one last time. WEST stated that he took one Xanax bar at 11:00 that morning. WEST reported that the pill usually lasts 16 hours, and it is not recommended to drive while using them.
