On January 15, 2026 at approximately 11:57 P.M., Brainerd Police Officer Bryce Johnson was on patrol on Oak Street in Brainerd, Crow Wing County, MN when he got behind a vehicle bearing license plate [PLATE REDACTED] that immediately pulled to the side of the road and turned on its hazards. As Officer Johnson continued past the vehicle, the driver was rolling down his window, leading the officer to believe the driver was signaling to speak with him. Officer Johnson backed his vehicle up and made contact with the driver who was later identified as Christopher Jean Vavrina [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter "defendant." As Officer Johnson was attempting to speak with defendant, defendant began to make several incoherent comments of something to the effect that his vehicle was being inoperable and he believed he was going to get pulled over by the officer.
Officer Johnson pulled behind the vehicle, turned on his rear facing emergency lights, and made contact with defendant. While speaking with defendant, Officer Johnson observed him to have bloodshot and watery eyes, dilated pupils, and fidgety movements. Officer Johnson, a certified Drug Recognition Evaluator (DRE), recognized these observations as indicators of impairment. Defendant cooperated with field sobriety testing and displayed indicators of impairment on the Modified Romberg, Walk and Turn, and One Leg Stand tests.
Defendant's pupils were dilated and had a slowed reaction to light. Defendant's pulse was approximately 100 BPM, which is higher than the DRE average range of 60-90 BPM. Defendant originally denied the use of controlled substances but eventually stated he had used methamphetamine the night before. Defendant was arrested for DWI and during a search of the vehicle, Officer Johnson located a bag behind the center console containing a suspected methamphetamine pipe and two plastic baggies containing field tested positive methamphetamine.
The bags weighed approximately 1.14 grams and 1.0 grams with packaging. Defendant has the following prior conviction under Chapter 152 as follows: - 5th degree controlled substance possession in court file number ••-CR-••-••••; and.- 5th degree controlled substance possession in court file number ••-CR-••-••••.
