On January 31, 2026 Officer Peterson, who is a certified DRE was on routine patrol in the City of Rochester, Minnesota when he observed a vehicle, MN GRA651 driving southbound on 1st Avenue NE near the Salvation Army. The vehicle was driving without operating tail lights. The vehicle continued southbound on 1st Avenue and crossed Center Street NE, and then turned eastbound onto 1st Street SE and then southbound onto Civic Center Drive SE failing to use a turn signal. The vehicle stopped at the red light at the intersection of Civic Center Drive SE and 2nd Street SE. The vehicle had in inoperable passenger side brake light.
Office Peterson initiated a traffic stop in the 400 block of 3rd Avenue SE, and the vehicle attempted to turn left into the parking lot of The Landing and almost struck oncoming traffic in the attempt but was able to stop before an accident occurred. The vehicle as stopped in the oncoming lane of traffic. Once the vehicle stopped Officer Peterson exited his squad and made contact with the driver, identified as KANELL ANGELO POWERS, [DOB REDACTED]. While speaking with Powers Officer Peterson observed Powers to have constricted pupils for the lighting conditions, as it was dark both inside and outside the vehicle.
Powers displayed droopy eyelids and bloodshot watery eyes. Powers spoke in a slow raspy voice, and Officer Peterson was familiar with Powers and knew him to be a fentanyl user, and also knew that Powers had a canceled-IPS driving status. Officer Peterson had Powers exit the vehicle and asked him about his drug use, and Powers stated he had last used fentanyl 6 days prior. Officer Peterson placed Powers under arrest for DAC-IPS, and elected to do field sobriety tests at the ADC as it was not safe to conduct the FST's in the parking lot due to a number of bystanders walking around and near the traffic stop.
A search incident to arrest revealed that Powers had a broken meth pipe on his person as well as a small piece of burnt tinfoil. Officer Charlton located a piece of burnt tinfoil on the drivers side floorboard. Powers was transported to the ADC where he underwent field sobriety tests. The HGN revealed lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes. Powers eyelids were droopy and his eyes were bloodshot and watery. Powers eyes would not converge to the end of the officer's finger during testing. Powers pulse rate was 62 bpm.
During the modified Romberg testing Powers estimated the passage of 30 seconds in 22 seconds and forgot to tell the officer to stop. During testing Officer Peterson observed that Powers was swaying in a circular motion and Powers hands were clenched in a fist while holding onto his pockets. Officer Peterson also observed Powers displayed eyelid tremors. Powers eyes were measured using a pupilometer and Powers pupils measured 2 mm in both light and darkness. Officer Peterson applied for a search warrant, and while doing so observed Powers to be on-the-nod, as he was nodding off while sitting in the chair and also drooling.
