On August 25, 2025, at approximately 7:11 P.M., Officer N. Shandley was on patrol in the area of Jordan Avenue South just east of Cove Drive in the city of Minnetonka, county of Hennepin, Minnesota and observed three males sitting in a vehicle bearing Minnesota license plate [PLATE REDACTED] that was parked on Jordan Avenue South. Officer N. Shandley noted the vehicle’s registration had expired in June of 2025 and as she drove past the vehicle detected the odor of burnt marijuana. Officer Shandley believed the smell of marijuana to be coming from the vehicle.
Officer N. Shandley activated her squad car’s emergency lights and approached the vehicle. Officer J. Van Hercke also arrived on scene and approached the vehicle. Officers immediately detected an odor of freshly burnt marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Officer J. Van Hercke asked the front seat passenger Abdihakin Ali Farah, [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein, if he was smoking marijuana and the defendant responded, “I am.” Officer J. Van Hercke asked the defendant to extinguish the joint which he did and then placed it in a can and gave it to him.
The backseat passenger C. M. Stated he was also in possession of marijuana and produced a glass jar with a gold lid from his sweatshirt pocket. The jar contained a green leafy substance and the jar contained no labeling or seal besides the lid of the jar. Officer Van Hercke informed the defendant that police would be searching the vehicle and the defendant then stated he had something to say, that there was a handgun in the car inside a backpack. The defendant stated he did not have a permit for the handgun.
Officers located a small black bag on the passenger side area where the defendant had been seated and inside located a Sig Sauer.40 handgun and magazine loaded with approximately 12 rounds. A passport in and pill bottle with the defendant’s name each were also found inside the bag. A check revealed the defendant did not have a permit to carry on file. The defendant stated he found the gun somewhere off of Fremont Avenue in the city of Minneapolis.
