On 10-10-2025 at about 0111 hours, a Ramsey County Deputy drove by a Volkswagen Passat that was parked at the Holiday Gas Station at [ADDRESS REDACTED] E in Vadnais Heights, Ramsey County. The license plate displayed on the rear of the Volkswagen was MN/BFK045. A check revealed that the plate was expired and registered to a 1999 Dodge Ram 1500. On the front of the Volkswagen was MN License Plate [PLATE REDACTED], which had been altered. Auto thieves commonly switch license plates in order to thwart law enforcement efforts to identify it.
The Volkswagen drove out of the parking lot and the Deputy initiated a traffic stop. The driver, identified as Eugene David BENSHOOF (05-25-1979), was argumentative, said he knew nothing about the license plates and that the vehicle belonged to his friend. BENSHOOF said he had been driving it for a couple of days. Based up the Deputy’s training and experience, BENSHOOF was nervous, acting suspiciously, and being deceptive. The Deputy also spotted a gun safety lock in the backseat on top of a gym bag that BENSHIOF said was his.
When asked if there were any firearms in the vehicle, BENSHOOF blinked rapidly, said "what?", said “no”, and then said he was a "felon." The Deputy asked BENSHOOF to exit the vehicle. EUGENE was reluctant but eventually complied. While doing so, he reached his right hand behind his back. Based on all the circumstances, Deputies conducted a search of BENSHOOF’s wingspan in the vehicle. During that search, a Deputy found a clear plastic baggie containing suspected narcotics in the pocket of the front passenger seat; well within BENSHOOF reach.
The substance later tested positive for methamphetamine with a net weight of 4.02 grams. BENSHOOF was placed under arrest. During a search incident to arrest, Deputies found a counterfeit $100.00 dollar bill and a counterfeit $50.00 dollar bill on his person. During a search of the vehicle, Deputies found a small plastic baggie on the driver’s seat containing a white powder, which later tested positive for methamphetamines with a net weight of 0.39 grams. For purposes of Rule 6.
