On December 12, 2025, at approximately 2:18 A.M., an officer with the Inver Grove Heights Police Department stopped a motor vehicle on 50th Street, in Inver Grove Heights, Dakota County, Minnesota. The officer stopped the vehicle because it was stopped in the turn lane at an intersection despite the light being green. The officer watched the motor vehicle as it remained in the turn lane for an entire cycle. When the light turned green again, the vehicle turned onto 50th Street. After the vehicle stopped, the officer approached the vehicle and spoke with the driver.
The officer noticed a passenger, identified as NOTCHIE JA-QUN DAVIS ([DOB redacted]). The officer noticed a backpack on the floorboard near DAVIS’s feet. The officer collected the driver’s identification. The driver advised that he did not have a valid driver’s license. The officer returned to his squad vehicle, ran the driver’s information, and learned that he had an active warrant. Officers reapproached the vehicle to arrest the driver. While speaking with the driver, he identified the passenger by name.
Further investigation indicated that the passenger was DAVIS. An officer ran DAVIS’s information and learned he had an active warrant. Officers reapproached the vehicle and arrested DAVIS. A tow truck was called to tow the vehicle. Before the tow, officers conducted an inventory search of the vehicle. During the inventory search, an officer searched the backpack. The backpack contained (1) five plastic baggies that contained substances and (2) a scale. In a statement, the driver stated DAVIS asked him to drive to a location in Inver Grove Heights.
The driver indicated DAVIS had a backpack with him when he gave him a ride. In a statement, DAVIS stated that he was going to meet someone to drop off clothing. DAVIS indicated that he had been picked up by the driver. DAVIS denied knowledge or ownership of the backpack, indicating that it was already inside the vehicle when he entered the vehicle. DAVIS denied that he was holding the backpack for someone else or bringing it somewhere. DAVIS identified the contents of the baggies as “sugar candy.” When asked how he knew about the contents, DAVIS replied that “people” 2 19HA-CR-26-806 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 6/9/2026 told him.
DAVIS indicated that his people obtained the candy from Hobby Lobby. A detective with the IGHPD analyzed the five baggies. The detective noticed that three of the baggies were tie off baggies, which the detective recognized due to their association with drug sales. The detective noticed that the two other baggies were plastic breast milk containers. The detective tested the substances inside two of the baggies – from one of the tie-off baggies and from one of the breast milk containers. The field testing was inconclusive.
