Based upon the information contained therein, your Complainant believes the following to be true and correct: That at approximately 11:16 A.M. On November 4, 2025, Officer Sheak was out routine patrol when he received information that a 2006 Ford Fusion bearing plate number WT5172 was in the area of 80th Street and Hinton Avenue in the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota. This information was provided as part of the City of Cottage Grove’s automatic license plate reader system. Officer Sheak further learned that the driver’s license for the vehicle’s registered owner, one NICHOLAS JAMES MERCADO, JR., hereinafter referred to as “the Defendant”, was “cancelled” in Minnesota with the designation “inimical to public safety.” Officer Sheak located the reported vehicle, now parked, at the Hinton Heights Apartment complex.
Officer Sheak both pulled up the DVS photo for the Defendant and ran known associates. Officer Sheak learned that one of those known associates was one JADA WESTREN BOY who resides at Unit #4, [address omitted] South. Officer Sheak returned to the Hinton Heights area around 4:35 P.M. On this date and observed a female enter the 2006 Ford Fusion, the vehicle belonging to the Defendant. Officer Sheak also observed a male party, who appeared to be the Defendant, enter a 2013 Ford F450 pickup bearing plate number 9X41. Officer Sheak ran plate number 9X41 and learned that the Ford F450 belongs to JADA BOY. Both the Ford Fusion and the Ford F450 pick up exited the parking lot and headed towards 80th Street and then turned westbound 80th and then entered northbound US Highway 61. While on US Highway 61 Officer Sheak was able pull alongside the Ford F450 pick up and confirm that it was the Defendant operating the vehicle.
Officer Sheak initiated a traffic stop. Once stopped Officer Sheak approached and confirmed the driver’s identity to be that of the Defendant. The Defendant handed DVS related paperwork dated October 31, 2025, to Officer Sheak. Officer Sheak had earlier observed that Defendant also had the restriction to his license requiring the use of “ignition interlock” when operating a vehicle. When Officer Sheak looked inside the Ford F450 he observed that it was not equipped with any device. The Defendant admitted to Officer Sheak that the Ford F450 was without an ignition interlock device.
Your Complaint was assigned this case and was able to confirm that on November 4, 2025, the Defendant’s driver’s license was “cancelled” with the designation “inimical to public safety” due to the number of prior DWI related offenses. It should be noted that Your Complainant also learned that the Defendant has a pending 1st Degree DWI out of Ramsey County, Court File No. ••-CR-••-••••. The Defendant also has pending two DACIPS cases out of Ramsey and Hennepin. The above facts constitute PROBABLE CAUSE to believe that on or about the 4th day of November, 2025, in the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, State of Minnesota, one NICHOLAS JAMES MERCADO, JR. Committed the above described offenses.
