On or about February 3, 2026, at approximately 9:48 P.M., Minnesota State Trooper Breeden was on routine patrol going southbound on US Highway 169, near Marble, Itasca County, Minnesota, when he observed the vehicle ahead of him cross over the fog line two times. Trooper Breeden activated his emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle was slow to stop, but eventually pulled over onto the right shoulder. Trooper Breeden approached the driver, who handed his vehicle insurance information out of the driver’s side window, which was cracked.
The driver did not have his driver’s license. The driver was identified as DANIEL SCOTT TRUDEL, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter the Defendant. While speaking with the Defendant, Trooper Breeden observed the Defendant to have bloodshot, watery eyes, his eyes were darting, his pupils did not react to Trooper Breeden’s flashlight, poor hygiene, and was argumentative. Trooper Breeden also observed Defendant to be using over exaggerated hand gestures while speaking, mumbling, and appeared to be having a hard time answering simple questions in full.
Based on his training and experience, Trooper Breeden believed the Defendant was under the influence of a controlled substance. Trooper Breeden had the Defendant step out of the vehicle to perform field sobriety testing. During the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, Trooper Breeden observed that the Defendant’s eyes had a lack of smooth pursuit and were darting. During the modified Romberg test, the Defendant was swaying, had heavy eye tremors, and counted to 30 in a 35 second period. The Defendant’s pulse was 118 beats per minute.
Additionally, the Defendant submitted to a preliminary breath test, which yielded a result of 0.000% breath alcohol content. During the mouth check, Trooper Breeden observed that the Defendant’s tongue was white and dry with visible heat bumps, which Trooper Breeden is aware are common with smoking methamphetamine out of a glass pipe. Based on the results of the field sobriety tests, Trooper Breeden placed the Defendant under arrest. During an inventory search of the Defendant’s vehicle, Itasca County Sheriff's Deputy Bodin located suspected methamphetamine.
In the bottom of the cup holder in the center console of the vehicle, Deputy Bodin located a black magnetic key box. In the key box was a baggie containing a white, crystalline substance which is consistent with methamphetamine. Trooper Breeden weighed the suspected methamphetamine in its baggie, which yielded a result of 3 grams. The substance field tested positive for methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is a Schedule II Controlled Substance. The methamphetamine was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for testing.
Results are pending. Trooper Breeden then transported the Defendant to the Grand Itasca Emergency Room to obtain a blood or urine sample. Trooper Breeden applied for a search warrant for a sample of the Defendant’s blood or urine. The search warrant was signed by the Honorable Chief Judge Jana Austad. Trooper Breeden read the Defendant the test refusal advisory. The Defendant refused to submit to a test without talking to his lawyer. Trooper Breeden advised the Defendant multiple times that failure to provide a urine or blood sample is a crime, and each time, the Defendant refused, as he wanted to speak to an attorney.
