On February 10, 2026, at approximately 6:16 P.M., Deputy LaCore of the Mower County Sheriff’s Office observed SHANE DOUGLAS POSTEMA, DOB/102789, the defendant herein, exit the driver’s seat of a white 2016 Dodge Caravan (MN LIC/RGL458) at the Buy the Way Food Mart located at [ADDRESS REDACTED] SE in the City of Austin, County of Mower. LaCore confirmed the defendant’s driving privileges are cancelled inimical to public safety. LaCore then observed the defendant drive the vehicle away from the gas pumps.
LaCore activated his emergency lights and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. Deputy LaCore approached the vehicle and observed the defendant sitting in the driver’s seat, making quick body movements and turning his head left and right. The defendant exited the vehicle. LaCore asked the defendant for proof of insurance and the defendant was unable to provide it to the officer. LaCore also informed the defendant of his driving status. While speaking with the defendant, Deputy LaCore observed him to have bloodshot, glossy eyes and dilated pupils.
LaCore also observed the defendant had dry lips, slight finger twitching and jaw grinding. LaCore asked the defendant if there was a reason he was driving. The defendant stated, “I had to run to the store, I gotta go out of town for work tomorrow and needed a vape.” When responding to LaCore’s question, the defendant mumbled his words. Deputy LaCore asked the defendant to perform the following field sobriety tests: Modified Romberg, fail; Lack of Convergence, present; and Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, no clues.
LaCore also obtained pulse readings from the defendant of 110 bpm and 114 bpm. The defendant was placed under arrest and later transported to the Mower County Jail. During the search of the vehicle, deputies located a bag of cannabis flower in a plastic zip lock bag in the center console, and a small plastic bag containing six (6) orange pills (later identified as “Klonopin” aka clonazepam) located on the floor behind the center console. At the jail, the defendant began to have medical concerns and started throwing up.
He was transported to the Mayo Clinic – Austin for medical evaluation. Deputy LaCore applied for and was granted a search warrant for a sample of the defendant’s blood or urine. LaCore provided the search warrant to the defendant and advised him that refusal to submit to a chemical test is a crime. The defendant provided a blood sample (kit #B482319). The defendant was medically cleared and returned to the jail. On February 11, 2026, Det. Brogan made contact with the defendant at the jail and read him the Miranda warning.
The defendant stated he understood and agreed to speak with the detective. Brogan advised the defendant that deputies had located some orange pills in his vehicle and asked him who they belonged to. The defendant replied, "The Klonopin? They are mine." The defendant stated that the pills "were just given to me." The defendant admitted the pills were in a plastic bag and that there "were about five of them in there." The defendant acknowledged that he does not have a prescription for Klonopin. A review of the defendant’s criminal history reflects prior convictions for Felony DWI dated October 11, 2021 (Mower County District Court file ••-CR-••-••••) entered on October 11, 2021; and Felony DWI- Refuse to submit to chemical test dated January 6, 2025 (Mower County District Court file ••-CR-••-••••).
