On February 25, 2026, at approximately 7:37 P.M., a Northfield Police Officer was on routine patrol near Heritage Dr. And Highway 3 South in Northfield, Rice County, Minnesota. The Officer observed a vehicle with Minnesota license plates reading “ZFB116” with registration tabs that were expired. The Officer confirmed through the police database that the tabs were expired, then activated his emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop. Upon making contact with the driver, the driver identified himself to law enforcement as Nicholas Martin Balfe, [DOB REDACTED] (“Defendant”). The driver also had with him a female passenger A. L. K. Defendant stated he knew his registration was expired.
During this interaction with law enforcement, both Defendant and A. L. K. Appeared nervous, uneasy, and were breathing heavy. Law enforcement could smell an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. When the Officer asked if there was marijuana inside the vehicle, Defendant said there was no marijuana in the vehicle but there had been at one point. The Officer asked if there was marijuana in the vehicle again where A. L. K. Responded that, “there might be a roach or something.” A. L. K. Then grabbed a small partially smoked roach out of the ash tray in the vehicle and showed it to the Officer.
The Officer then requested that Defendant turn off the vehicle and for the Defendant and A. L. K. To exit the vehicle one at a time, starting with Defendant. Defendant turned off the vehicle, but appeared very fidgety, kept patting his legs, and reaching by his lap area at the request to exit the vehicle. Defendant exited the vehicle and was frisked by law enforcement for weapons. As law enforcement was frisking Defendant for weapons, the Officer felt a hard rock-like substance in Defendant’s right front pocket.
The Officer asked what the object was, and Defendant said it was a bag. The Officer then asked if he could grab it, and the Defendant said the Officer could. The Officer removed the bag and observed a white crystal substance inside. From the Officer’s training and experience, the Officer knew the white crystal substance was methamphetamine. Defendant was then placed under arrest while law enforcement searched the vehicle. In law enforcement’s search of the vehicle, they found three glass pipes. One pipe had white powder residue and burn marks, while the other two only had burn marks.
The suspected methamphetamine later field tested positive and had a total weight of 8.90 grams. Prior to February 25, 2026, Defendant has been convicted of several drug-related offenses: 5th Degree Possession in January 2007 (66-K8-05-001970), 5th Degree Controlled Substance Crime in July 2016 (••-CR-••-••••), 1st Degree Sale or Possession in January 2020 (••-CR-••-••••), and 5th Degree Possession in August 2020 (••-CR-••-••••). Defendant was also convicted of gross misdemeanor assault in December 2005 (66-K8-05-001970). PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: Pursuant to Minn.
