On November 13, 2025, at approximately 3:50 P.M., Officer Skyler Meiners of St. Cloud Police Department was driving an unmarked squad car northbound on 6th Avenue South, city of St. Cloud, county of Stearns. Officer Meiners was alerted to a red Pontiac G6 Minnesota license plate [PLATE REDACTED] that was driving faster than the speed limit and took a turn aggressively. As the vehicle approached the stop sign, the driver did not use a turn signal when it turned to go east bound. Then as the vehicle approached the stop sign at 4th Ave.
South and 13th Street South, the driver did not use a turn signal to turn southbound on 4th Ave. South. Officer Meiners observed that the passenger's side brake light was out and did not activate simultaneously with the driver's side light. When the vehicle turned onto 15th Street South, it completely disregarded the turn lane. At this point, Officer Meiners initiated a traffic stop. When Officer Meiners approached the vehicle, he smelled an overwhelming smell of alcoholic beverage from the driver.
The driver had bloodshot and watery eyes. Officer Meiners identified the driver as ANTHONY ANTWAN THORNTON [DOB REDACTED], the Defendant herein, by his Minnesota Identification card. Based on the Defendant's driving conduct and his behavior, Officer Meiners requested a marked squad car with a PBT machine. Officer Meiners asked the Defendant to exit his vehicle, and when attempting to turn around to look at Officer Meiners, the Defendant staggered and almost fell over. The smell of alcoholic beverage was coming directly from the Defendant.
At this time, Officer Meiners began to perform standard field sobriety testing on the Defendant. During the Walk and Turn test, the Defendant had difficulty listening to the directions of the tests, moved from the instructional position, began the test too early, did not step heel-to- toe, and used his hands to balance. During the One-Legged Stand test, the Defendant put his foot down after approximately 3 seconds. Officer Justin Wagman was already on scene by the time that the field sobriety tests were complete.
Officer Wagman administered the PBT to the Defendant. The Defendant's PBT sample yielded a BAC of.131. The Defendant was placed under arrest for DWI. The Defendant was searched incident to that arrest. During that search, a small clear baggie with white powder fell from the Defendant's right sock. Officer Logan Hord took custody of the baggie while Officer Meiners transported the Defendant to the Stearns County Jail. Officer Hord, based on his training and experience, believed the substance to be powder cocaine.
Officer Hord conducted a presumptive NIC test, which was positive for cocaine, a Schedule II Controlled Substance. At the jail, Officer Meiners read the Defendant the Minnesota Breath Test Advisory and provided him with time to speak to an attorney. The Defendant agreed to provide a breath sample and did not wish to speak to an attorney. Officer Meiners administered the DMT to the Defendant. The Defendant's breath sample yielded a BAC of.12 at approximately 5:02 P.M. On November 14, 2025, Officer Nord removed the bag from the temporary storage locker and weighed it.
