On March 8, 2026, at 12:46 A.M., a trooper with the Minnesota State Patrol received a report of a vehicle southbound on Interstate 35 West near Minnesota Highway 62 that was not maintaining a consistent speed, was weaving over the driving lane lines, and almost sideswiped another vehicle. The trooper was able to make phone contact with the reporting party who continued to follow the vehicle. The reporting party directed the trooper to the location of the vehicle with bad driving conduct. The trooper got behind the vehicle on Interstate 35 West near County Road 42 in the City of Burnsville, Dakota County, Minnesota.
The trooper observed the vehicle cross the traffic lane markers, vary its speed, the vehicle’s brake lights would activate when there was no reason to apply the brakes, and the vehicle followed another vehicle more closely than was safe. The trooper activated their vehicle’s emergency lights in an attempt to stop the vehicle. The vehicle slowed down slightly but continued driving. The trooper observed the driver looking at him in the driver’s sideview mirror. The trooper then activated his vehicle’s siren and the defendant’s vehicle slowly came to a stop on Interstate 35 at Crystal Lake in the City of Burnsville, Dakota County, Minnesota.
The trooper approached the vehicle and smelled the strong odor of a consumed alcoholic beverage. The driver identified himself as Jefferson Enoc Vargas Rodriguez, and the trooper observed that the defendant’s eyes were glossy and bloodshot. The defendant admitted that he did not have a driver’s license or insurance for the vehicle. The trooper asked the defendant to step out of the vehicle to perform some field sobriety testing. The defendant now admitted consuming 3 or 4 beers after originally denying consuming any alcohol.
The trooper observed the defendant’s balance was poor and he swayed side to side and back and forth. The horizontal gaze nystagmus test was given, and signs of impairment were noticed. The defendant then refused to perform any other tests. The defendant was then placed under arrest. The defendant was transported to the Dakota County Jail. A jailer searched the defendant and found a plastic bag in the defendant’s right pants pocket containing a white powdery substance. The white powdery substance was later preliminarily tested, and the test indicated the presence of cocaine and it weighed.65 grams.
The defendant was read the Minnesota Implied Consent Advisory and refused to 3 19HA-CR-26-338 Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 3/9/2026 submit to a breath test.
