On September 14, 2025, at approximately 8:52 P.M., Officer Schroeder of the Austin Police Department was on routine patrol traveling westbound in the 100 block of Oakland Avenue East in the City of Austin, County of Mower, when he observed a tan 2005 Chevrolet Impala (MN license KFS974)., Schroeder observed the vehicle to have expired registration tabs of July 2025. Schroder initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Avenue and 2Street SE when he observed the vehicle hit a curb before stopping.
Officer Schroeder made contact with the driver, KIMBERLY RODRIGUEZ, DOB/033092, the defendant herein. Schroeder advised the defendant of the reason for the stop and requested proof of insurance. The defendant was unable to provide proof of insurance on the vehicle. Schroeder also learned the defendant's driving privileges are revoked, While speaking with the defendant, Officer Schroeder observed a half bottle of Southern Comfort Whiskey, a torch and a dose of Narcan in the back seat of the vehicle, Schroeder also observed the defendant's fingers to be twitchy/rigid, slow raspy speech, and appeared to be extremely anxious/nervous.
During the contact, Schroeder also observed the defendant grab a clear baggie and attempt to stuff it into the driver side seat. Schroeder asked the defendant what she was trying to hide and what was in the clear baggie. The defendant then reached where she attempted to place the baggie and handed it to the officer. The defendant advised that it was drugs. The defendant also told Schroeder that she last used methamphetamine at approximately 12:00 P.M. That: day. Officer Schroeder asked the defendant to perform the following field sobriety tests: Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus; Walk and Turn, fail; One Leg Stand, fail; and P. B. T, no result.
During the tests, Schroeder observed the defendant to sway, and her fingers twitched, Deputy Mueller assisted with having the defendant perform the Modified Romberg test, fail; and obtained pulse readings from the defendant of 124 and 119 bpms. During the tests, Mueller observed the defendant to have bruxism, twitchy fingers, body sway, muscle rigidness, and eyelid tremors. The defendant was placed under arrest and later transported to the Mower County Jail. The passenger was identified and released from the scene, During the search of the vehicle, the officers located multiple containers of marijuana, drug paraphernalia; and a fake Monster can on the driver's side floorboard.
Deputy Mueller screwed off the top of the fake can and located multiple bags of methamphetamine. Mueller also located a small plastic baggie with methamphetamine on the rear floorboard behind the driver's seat, All four baggies located in the defendant's vehicle field tested positive for methamphetamine and had a combined weight of 5.6 grams. Also located in the vehicle was a half-empty bottle of Southern Comfort Whiskey.: At the jail, Officer Schroeder applied for and was granted a search warrant for a sample of the defendant's blood or urine.
