Your complainant states that on August 24, 2025, at approximately 11:02 P.M., she observed a Nissan Pathfinder bearing Minnesota license plate number JLU175 traveling northbound on Highway 169, in the City of Plymouth, Hennepin County, Minnesota. A check of the vehicle’s registration revealed that the registration expired as of May 2025. Your complainant initiated a traffic stop of the vehicle and made contact with its driver, who was identified by Minnesota driver’s license as RODRIGO MONCADA‐ESPINO, [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein.
While speaking with the defendant, your complainant detected the faint odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. When asked if there was any marijuana in the vehicle, the defendant produced a lunch bag containing marijuana shake. The defendant admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the day. Your complainant also detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from the defendant’s person. During a routine search of the vehicle, your complainant located two marijuana grinders, a glass jar with marijuana residue in it and multiple pipes.
Your complainant also located a small bag with white residue on it under the driver’s seat. The defendant was unable to successfully perform field sobriety tests as requested by your complainant. A PBT was administered and revealed the presence of alcohol. Based upon her observations, your complainant formed the opinion that the defendant was driving while under the influence of alcohol and a controlled substance and placed him under arrest. The defendant was transported to West Health, where a sample of his blood was drawn pursuant to a search warrant.
Your complainant sent this sample to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) for testing. BCA test results indicated that the defendant’s blood contained the presence of benzoylecgonine (a metabolite of cocaine) (Schedule II), delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) (Schedule III), 11-hydroxy-delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (hydroxy-THC), an inactive metabolite of delta-9-THC (Schedule III), and 11-nor-9-carboxy- delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (carboxy-THC), an inactive metabolite of delta-9-THC (Schedule III). In a post‐Miranda statement, the defendant admitted to consuming a beer that morning while at a baseball game, and a Modelo and a double shot of Don Julio tequila while at a bonfire that evening.
The defendant also admitted that he smoked marijuana prior to drinking the shot of tequila. The defendant stated that his last drink was consumed at approximately 9:00 P.M. The defendant denied any recent cocaine use.
