On 03/01/2026 at about 2320 hours, a Ramsey County Deputy saw two vehicles that appeared to be driving together and traveling at a high rate of speed on Interstate 35E near Arlington Ave. As the vehicles exited the highway at Wheelock Pkwy/Larpenteur Ave E., the Deputy saw that the second vehicle, a BMW with heavily tinted windows, failed to stop for a red light on eastbound Larpenteur Ave E. The Deputy activated the squad’s emergency lights and siren and stopped the BMW in front of [ADDRESS REDACTED] E in St. Paul, Ramsey County.
The BMW was occupied by two males in the front seats. As the driver opened his wallet, the Deputy saw a MN Permit to Carry a Firearm. The driver was shaking, had shaky speech, and fumbled with his documents and wallet. The Deputy could smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside of the vehicle and there was an alcohol bottle visible in the backseat. The driver was identified as Jimmy ZAMARRON DIAZ [DOB REDACTED] and the passenger was identified as Elder GOMEZ [DOB REDACTED]. The Deputy asked ZAMARRON DIAZ if there was a firearm in the vehicle and ZAMARRON DIAZ said there was not.
ZAMARRON DIAZ was asked to exit the vehicle and when he opened the driver's door the Deputy saw a glass bowl pipe, a jar containing suspected marijuana, and a small black digital scale. The Deputy asked again whether there was a firearm in the vehicle and ZAMARRON DIAZ admitted that there was a handgun under the driver's seat. ZAMARRON DIAZ said the firearm belonged to his friend. The Deputy recovered a Smith & Wesson M&P 5.7mm handgun, with a loaded magazine, from under the seat. During a search of the vehicle, the Deputy also found a plastic baggie containing a white lumpy substance, suspected to be narcotics, in the center armrest console.
The substance later field tested positive for cocaine with a net weight of 9.26 grams. Both ZAMARRON DIAZ and GOMEZ were arrested. Both GOMEZ and ZAMARRON DIAZ declined formal interviews. However, when the Deputy informed ZAMARRON DIAZ that his seized phone would be searched pursuant to a search warrant, ZAMARRON DIAZ provided the Deputy the phone’s passcode. ZAMARRON DIAZ then explained that his mother would not be pleased with his arrest because she would find out that he was using cocaine. ZAMARRON DIAZ then said he had been using cocaine for some time and would purchase about 10 grams at a time and consume it over the course of 3 to 4 weeks.
Further, ZAMARRON DIAZ admitted that the marijuana found in the car door was his. Pursuant to a search warrant, Deputies examined the contents of ZAMARRON’s phone which included conversations and photos relating to narcotics use, purchase, and sales.
