Jacob Norwood Ricci

On March 16, 2026, at approximately 7:45 P.M., Minnesota State Troopers were dispatched on a report of a person slumped in a vehicle in the area of Interstate Highway 694 and County Road 81, in Hennepin County, Minnesota. Troopers arrived on scene and observed a passenger car positioned in the road with its brake lights on. Troopers observed that the vehicle’s sole occupant was the driver, subsequently identified as JACOB NORWOOD RICCI, hereafter Defendant. Defendant appeared to be unconscious and was slumped against the driver’s side door and window.

Defendant’s hand was positioned on the gear shifter, which was in “drive” mode. Troopers knocked on the window and Defendant woke up, appearing startled. Troopers made contact with Defendant and asked him what was going on. Defendant responded that he “didn’t know” and appeared to be in shock. Troopers asked Defendant what he was doing, and Defendant responded that he had been driving. Troopers also asked Defendant if and when he had last ingested any controlled substances, and Defendant replied that he had not used any controlled substances in “a couple years”. However, while speaking with Defendant, Troopers observed that his eyes were bloodshot, watery, and partially closed, and that his speech was slow.

Additionally, Defendant performed poorly on standard field-sobriety tests. Based on their observations of Defendant and Defendant’s performance during the field-sobriety tests, Troopers placed Defendant under arrest for driving while impaired. Defendant’s vehicle was impounded, and during an inventory search of the vehicle, Troopers located drug paraphernalia and a white, crystal-like substance which Troopers suspected to be methamphetamine. The substance later field-tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 0.06 grams.

Troopers also located a second substance in the vehicle, which later field-tested positive for fentanyl and weighed 0.39 grams. Troopers obtained a signed search warrant for Defendant’s blood sample. Defendant’s blood sample was drawn by a registered nurse and sealed in a BCA-approved test kit at approximately 10:11 P.M., pursuant to the warrant. In a report dated April 26, 2026, a BCA analyst concluded that Defendant’s blood contained amphetamine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and norfentanyl (all Schedule I or II controlled substances). Defendant has one DWI aggravating factor stemming from a DWI conviction (see MNCIS Case No. 02- CR-25-6495). At present, Defendant is not in custody.