On April 20, 2025, Metro Transit Police Officers observed a narcotics transaction occur through CCTV video at the Lake Street and I-35W Westbound Bus Shelter, Minneapolis, Hennepin County. Officers observed who was later identified as MARIO KEREEM NEWELL, Defendant herein, seated on a bench with another male standing in front of him. The Defendant is observed pouring suspected narcotics into a smaller yellow baggie and handing it to the other male. The Defendant then placed the remaining narcotics in his right front pants pocket in a yellow baggie.
The males then appear to complete a Cashapp transaction. Officers arrived on scene and located the two people involved in the transaction. Officers stopped the Defendant and searched him incident to arrest. Officers located the suspected narcotics in his right front pants pocket. Officers also located two cellphones, 9 sim cards, a scale with suspected narcotics residue, empty yellow baggies, and $110 in cash. Officers located the buyer who relinquished the narcotics in a yellow baggie he purchased from the Defendant and showed Officers the Cashapp transaction where he purchased the narcotics from the Defendant for $20. On June 9, 2025, the BCA reported that the suspected narcotics indicated the presence of methamphetamine and weighed 5.928 grams.
The case was submitted to the HCAO on November 18, 2025. The Defendant is currently out of custody.