Amanda Killeen Carlson

On January 17, 2026, at approximately 10:53 P.M., a Park Ranger with the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office saw a motor vehicle parked at the Big River Scenic Overlook, located in Mendota Heights, Dakota County, Minnesota. The Park Ranger pulled behind the vehicle to contact any occupants because it was in the parking lot after hours. The Park Ranger approached the vehicle on foot and noticed that the vehicle was occupied by a single person sitting in the driver’s seat, who was later identified as AMANDA KILLEEN CARLSON [DOB REDACTED]. CARLSON told the Park Ranger that she had a flat tire.

When asked, CARLSON refused to provide identification. Eventually, officers with the Mendota Heights Police Department responded to assist. CARLSON refused multiple requests to identify herself. After CARLSON ignored repeated requests, officers arrested her for obstructing legal process. Once CARLSON was identified, officers learned she had a warrant. During an inventory search of the vehicle, an officer located a bag on the front passenger seat. The bag contained a backpack. The backpack contained a bag with a zipper.

The zippered bag contained three items – two containers and a baggie. Each item contained a substance. The substance inside each item field tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. One substance weighed approximately 0.73 grams. One substance weighed approximately 3.71 grams. And one substance weighed approximately 0.97 grams.