On November 3, 2025, at approximately 12:59 AM law enforcement conducted a traffic stop of a driver later identified as Patricia Renee Panasiti, [DOB REDACTED], Defendant herein, after he observed Defendant driving her vehicle in an unsafe manner near County Road 41 and 320th Street in the Township of Albany, County of Stearns, State of Minnesota. The officer observed the vehicle drive on the fog line four times and top the fog line three times. Additionally, the vehicle's break light on the passenger side was not functioning properly.
The officer approached the passenger side of the vehicle and observed a torch lighter on the center console. He observed that Defendant had glassy eyes and rapid speech. At the officer's request, Defendant performed field sobriety testing, during which the officer observed signs of impairment. Defendant was then placed under arrest. The officer identified a glass marijuana one hitter style pipe in the vehicle's center console in addition to the torch lighter previously observed. She further identified a glass bubble pipe with residue and bags containing a white crystal-like substance inside a glasses case that later field tested positive for methamphetamine and weighed 4.8 grams in total including packaging.
Pursuant to a search warrant, Defendant was transported to the St. Cloud Hospital for a blood draw. The blood draw occurred on November 3, 2025, at approximately 2:20 AM. Defendant was then transported to the Stearns County Jail. Upon arrival to the jail, Defendant admitted that she had used methamphetamine approximately five hours prior. Defendant was charged with 4th Degree Driving While Impaired in Stearns County on 10/27/2025 with an offense date of 09/12/2025 in file No. 73-CR-25-9096.
