On January 17, 2026, around 1:16 AM, officers with the Plymouth Police Department were on patrol and driving southbound on Fernbrook Lane in Plymouth, Hennepin County, Minnesota. Officers observed a vehicle which was also traveling southbound on Fernbrook Lane. The vehicle drifted back and forth and crossed over lane lines. The vehicle pulled into a nearby parking lot when officers observed an object hanging from the rearview mirror. A traffic stop was initiated. Officers approached the vehicle and identified the driver as Mark Erich Lightfoot [DOB REDACTED] (“Defendant”). While speaking with Defendant, officers observed his eyes to be bloodshot and watery.
Defendant also had slurred speech and was lethargic and sluggish. Officers detected a faint odor of a consumed alcoholic beverage emanating from Defendant’s person. Officers returned to their vehicle whereby they found that Defendant’s driving privileges were revoked. Defendant also had four active warrants for his arrest. Defendant performed various Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (“SFSTs”) to which he showed clues of impairment. Defendant was arrested. Defendant was provided his Miranda warning and agreed to speak with officers.
Defendant told officers that he had consumed a Percocet the day prior. Officers obtained a search warrant (“the Warrant”) for a sample of Defendant’s blood or urine. The Warrant was executed and a sample of Defendant’s blood (“the Sample”) was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (“BCA”) for analysis. On March 30, 2026, the BCA found that the Sample contained cocaine. Cocaine is a schedule-II controlled substance. Defendant was brought to the Hennepin County Jail. After Defendant was removed from the squad vehicle, officers observed a white rocky and powdery substance where Defendant had been seated.
Officers believed that the substances came from Defendant as the squad was checked prior to their shift and no other person sat in the squad where Defendant had been seated. The substances were collected and field tested. Officers found that the substances weighed 0.79-grams and tested positive for cocaine. On January 19, 2024, Defendant was convicted of Misdemeanor driving while intoxicated (“DWI”) by virtue of 27-CR-23-10355. Defendant has an additional DWI conviction from 2011 (27-CR-11-8148). Due to Defendant’s continued and dangerous driving conduct, a warrant is requested to ensure public safety.
