On February 24, 2026, at approximately 1:15 P.M., Troopers of the Minnesota State Patrol responded to reports of a stalled vehicle blocking lanes of traffic at Westbound I-94 near Dunwoody Blvd., City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Troopers arrived on scene and observed a white Subaru Outback (MN LIC# ZKA622) blocking the center lane and impeding traffic. Troopers, with emergency lights activated, contacted the vehicle’s operator, identified as JEFFREY MOFFAT BARNES [DOB REDACTED], DEFENDANT herein, who stated that he was unable to put the vehicle into gear after crashing into traffic barrels marking a construction zone.
During this conversation, DEFENDANT began to speak nonsensically, randomly announcing that “I was the best driver on the road” and refusing to comply with efforts to move out of the center lane. While attempting to have DEFENDANT move the vehicle out of traffic, he became more animated and agitated telling Troopers that “I’m not leaving here until you listen to me,” and began yelling at Troopers and stating he would only speak to them if they entered his vehicle. Troopers observed that DEFENDANT’s conduct was consistent with that of a person impaired or under the influence of an intoxicating or controlled substance.
DEFENDANT eventually placed the vehicle in gear but instead of pulling over to the shoulder of the road as instructed, accelerated at highway speeds away from Troopers and drove toward the I-394 ramp. Troopers pursued DEFENDANT with lights and sirens activated; however, DEFENDANT continued to drive away and would not yield. DEFENDANT eventually drove onto I-394 and suddenly came to a stop by unsafely slamming his brakes at the entrance of the I-394 HOV lanes. DEFENDANT exited his vehicle but refused to comply with the instructions of Troopers.
DEFENDANT’s conduct and resistance further escalated causing Troopers to deploy a taser multiple times in order to safely subdue him. Due to the totality of the circumstances indicating suspicion that DEFENDANT was under the influence or otherwise intoxicated by an unknown substance, Troopers obtained a search warrant for DEFENDANT’s blood. DEFENDANT consented to a draw of his blood. BCA chemical analysis of DEFENDANT's blood revealed the presence of multiple metabolites of THC, a controlled substance, in his body.
DEFENDANT is not presently in custody.
