On December 23, 2025, at approximately 5:31 A.M., Buffalo Police Officer Olson was dispatched to a noise complaint at Buffalo Hills Park, 1102 7th Ave NE, Buffalo, Wright County, Minnesota. The reporting party advised Wright County Dispatch that people were in the park being very loud, yelling, and suspected that it was possibly drug related. The subjects were described as two males with one wearing shorts and they were last seen heading northbound on 7th Ave NE. Upon arrival to the area, Off. Olson located two adult males walking SB on the sidewalk adjacent to Buffalo Hills Park.
He observed that both males had drawstring bags and were walking briskly. One of the males was wearing a red Under Armour draw string bag, black basketball shorts, black hoodie, black hat, and white sneakers. The other male, later positively identified as Jamis Ray Forward, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter the defendant, was wearing black sneakers, black sweats, a red hoodie, and a blue draw string bag. Based on the 911 complaint alleged suspected drug activity as well as one of the males wearing shorts in 29-degree weather, Off.
Olson activated his emergency lights, however both males continued walking for at least five seconds with no reaction. The male wearing the shorts eventually stopped and looked back, however the defendant continued walking away from the squad without looking back. Off. Olson called out to the defendant, at which point he turned back briefly making direct eye contact before taking off in a dead sprint. He then fled SB for a block before turning WB onto Upplanda Street NE. As he was running, the defendant continued reaching through the blue drawstring bag, at which point, based on his training and experience, Off.
Olson suspected that he could have a firearm. Off. Olson began shouting, "POLICE STOP!", along with several more loud verbal commands, however the defendant continued fleeing while continuing to reach and grab at the blue drawstring bag. As the officer rounded the corner he soon located the defendant crawling forward into a thorny fruit tree. The defendant's hands, arms, and blue drawstring bag were not visible, and Off. Olson drew his service weapon and held it at a low ready while giving loud verbal commands to, "Show me your hands" and "Get on the ground". The defendant continued to ignore the officer, until he eventually placed his arms outward.
Once Off. Olson saw his face, he immediately identified him based on previous personal contacts with him and his near identical brother. Off. Olson searched the defendant for weapons but did not locate the blue drawstring bag. The defendant began stating that he never had a blue bag. Off. Olson observed remarkable signs of recent narcotic usage including sunken cheeks, bloodshot eyes, constricted pupils and fresh scabs and sores on the defendant’s neck. The blue drawstring bag was later found in the snow.
