The Complainant having reviewed the applicable reports believes the following facts to be true: On November 19, 2025, a trooper was on patrol in the area of Highway 52 and Concord Street in Saint Paul, Ramsey County. The trooper heard a vehicle with loud exhaust an saw a black truck pass by. The trooper caught up and used a radar to confirm the vehicle was traveling up to 80 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone. The vehicle was accelerating and decelerating in an unusual manner and was weaving over lane lines.
The trooper conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Armando MENDOZA ALCOCER [DOB REDACTED], the defendant herein, via an instruction permit. The defendant's eyes were bloodshot and watery. When the defendant exited the vehicle he appeared to stumble and used the car for support as he walked to the squad car. The defendant initially denied drinking alcohol, but later admitted to having two beers. There was a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. Due to a language barrier, the trooper used an interpreter to communicate with the defendant.
The defendant performed the Horizontal Nystagmus Gaze ("HGN") test, which further indicated impairment. There was distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes, and onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees in both eyes. The defendant declined to provide a breath sample for a PBT. He was taken into custody and transported to the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center. During an inventory search of the vehicle, troopers found an open bottle of Modelo beer tucked into the seat pocket of the rear passenger's seat.
The trooper read the Minnesota Breath Test Advisory to the defendant, with the assistance of an interpreter. The defendant stated he did not understand the situation. He stated he wanted to speak to an attorney. The defendant called his wife, and after speaking with her briefly he stated he no longer wished to speak to an attorney. The defendant then stated he would not take the breath test. When asked why he was refusing, the interpreter service froze. The trooper used Google Translate to communicate with the defendant, who stated he was refusing because of "how everything happened" and the HGN test.
