On April 29, 2025, law enforcement officers with the Washington County Sheriff's Office and Minnesota State Patrol were dispatched to US Highway 61 at the intersection of Highway 10 within Denmark Township, Washington County, on a report of a multi-vehicle crash. Upon arrival, Washington County Sheriff's Deputy Felmlee and Minnesota State Patrol Trooper S. Lindbeck spoke to individuals involved in the crash and learned the following: a total of three vehicles had been involved in the crash including a white 2024 Freightliner box truck, a black 2012 Lincoln MKX SUV, and a black 2014 Buick Enclave.
The passenger in the box truck, C. H. V-A. [DOB REDACTED], suffered a head injury while in the box truck after the box truck was struck in the rear by the Lincoln MKX. According to the driver of the Buick Enclave (K. N. B. [DOB REDACTED]), the rear car in the three car collision, she stated she had been behind the box truck and the Lincoln while they travelled on the roadway. K. N. B. Observed the box truck slow down to get in the left turn lane off the roadway. The Lincoln, positioned behind the box truck, took a similar travel path, but it did not properly slow down and crashed into the rear of the box truck at full speed.
From her position behind the Lincoln, K. N. B. Attempted to slow and avoid contact, but she ultimately collided with the rear of the Lincoln. The driver of the Lincoln was identified as ROBERT JOHN SHERMAN [DOB REDACTED]. Due to injuries sustained in the crash, the passenger in the box truck and SHERMAN were both transported to the hospital. Upon further investigation of the crash site, Deputy Felmlee located a handgun from the debris field next to the Lincoln. The handgun was discovered next to the driver's side of the Lincoln.
The firearm had been damaged, but it still had a single round in the chamber. A holster for the firearm and a full 9mm Glock magazine were also located in this area and seized by law enforcement. Law enforcement officers later obtained a search warrant for a known sample of SHERMAN's DNA, which they collected and sent to the BCA along with swabs from the pistol for DNA evidence. On June 17, 2025, the BCA released a "REPORT ON THE EXAMINATION OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE" which stated that SHERMAN was indicated to be a possible contributor to this DNA mixture identified on the firearm's handle and frame as well as the 9mm magazine.
SHERMAN is ineligible to possess a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction for 3rd Degree Sale of a Narcotic on 6/19/2019 in court file no. 25-CR-19-321. Based upon the location of the firearm by law enforcement, a search warrant was executed on SHERMAN's motor vehicle to search for further evidence of firearms. During the search, law enforcement located a number of baggies containing a white crystalline substance sitting on the passenger floorboard. Law enforcement updated the search warrant to include narcotics based upon this discovery.
