On January 8, 2026, a Minnesota State trooper was on a routine patrol in downtown Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, when he received briefing by law enforcement conducting a surveillance on a male identified as JOSE ANTONIO LOZA GONZALEZ [DOB REDACTED], Defendant Loza Gonzalez herein, via radio. The trooper learned officers had observed Defendant Loza Gonzalez engage in a drug transaction involving a vehicle identified as Toyota Camry bearing Minnesota license plate [PLATE REDACTED]. While driving southbound on Portland Avenue approaching Grant Street, the trooper observed the vehicle making an abrupt lane change to the left lane and started to accelerate.
The trooper observed the vehicle had a dark tinted rear window and dark tinted rear side windows, later measured as 18% light transmittance. The trooper moved to position his squad directly behind the vehicle. The trooper confirmed the vehicle bore the same Minnesota license plate, LLS202. The trooper observed the vehicle to immediately brake. The trooper activated the squad’s emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as JUNIOR DE JESUS HERRERA BERRIOS [DOB REDACTED], Defendant Herrera Berrios herein, pulled the vehicle to the left of southbound Portland Ave, just south of 15th Street.
The trooper approached the vehicle on the driver’s side and asked Defendant Herrera Berrios for his driver’s license. Defendant Herrera Berrios stated that he did not have a driver’s license and handed the trooper a Minnesota Identification card. Defendant Herrera Berrios was asked to exit the vehicle for more questioning. There were two additional passengers in the vehicle. The trooper checked Defendant Herrera Berrios for weapons and requested he stand by the squad’s passenger window to enter information into the squad computer.
While at the window, the trooper engaged in a casual conversation with Defendant Herrera Berrios. When asked where he was coming from, Defendant Herrera Berrios stated that he was coming from a hotel. The trooper informed Defendant Herrera Berrios the reason for the stop was the extremely dark tint on the windows. Defendant Herrera Berrios was asked if he was staying at the hotel and he said he was not and stated his friend was coming from a trip. He stated the friend did not have a driver’s license also.
Defendant Herrera Berrios then stated that “we just work like down here” and “I live in Burnsville, we just came from there.” The trooper found these statements to be suspicious as Defendant Herrera Berrios was driving southbound Portland Ave in downtown Minneapolis and had previously stated he was coming from a hotel. Defendant Herrera Berrios then stated that he did maintenance work for apartments. The trooper observed a voice inflection and that Defendant Herrera Berrios appeared to be nervous.
