38 P.M., Officer Noah Mashino was traveling east on 19th Ave SE when he observed a vehicle in front of him cross over the solid center line going into the left hand turn lane. The vehicle continued to drive in the turn lane for 100-200 feet before crossing back into the eastbound lane of traffic. The vehicle continued to swerve in and out of the lane of traffic into the turn lane. Near the intersection of 19th Avenue and 5th Street SE, the vehicle had crossed over the right-hand dotted line. The vehicle was registered to RONALD DEAN FULTZ, [DOB REDACTED]. Officer Maschino continued to follow the vehicle, where it swerved over into the turn lane, driving into the left turn lane, while also driving over the fog line.
The vehicle also swerved within its lane. At no point did the vehicle ever use its blinker, indicating merging into the left-hand turn lane. Officer Maschino initiated a traffic stop on 9th Street SE just south of 19th Ave SE in the City of Willmar, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. The driver was identified as FULTZ. As Officer Maschino approached the driver’s side door, FULTZ opened the door and indicated that the window did not work. When FULTZ opened the door, Officer Maschino noted there to be a spent.22 casing on the floorboard in between the door and the driver’s seat.
I also noted that there was a purple butane lighter located in the center console. Immediately upon speaking with FULTZ, Officer Maschino detected an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Officer Maschino observed that FULTZ had bloodshot and dilated pupils. FULTZ advised that he was going to a friend’s house at that time. FULTZ denied any alcohol consumption and advised that he had not used any illegal drugs. FULTZ did state a previous history of marijuana use, but he had not used recently.
While speaking with FULTZ at the front door, in also looking through the driver’s side back door window I observed there to be a red butane torch laying on the floor. Due to the two different butane torches, I had questioned FULTZ about smoking in which he initially denied, but as I questioned more, he did mention of cigarette smoking previously. When Officer Maschino checked FULTZ’S driving status, FULTZ moved one of the butane torches. When Officer Maschino came back to the vehicle, he asked FULTZ where the torch was.
FULTZ said it was in the center console and then began looking for it. Officer Maschino observed a zip-lock baggie containing a green leafy substance that I believed to be marijuana. The packaging 3 34-CR-25-714 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 12/2/2025 that the marijuana was in was not legally packaged for transport. Officer Maschino asked FULTZ to step out of the vehicle so he could search it. During the search, Officer Maschino immediately observed that the center console had been tampered with and the middle portion was removeable.
