(Editor’s Note: The following article was submitted by the Big Lake Police Dept.)

On August 18, 2021 at approximately 12:26 a.m. Officer Tyler Hecht observed a Chevrolet Tahoe with a large non-transparent sticker covering most of the back window. Officer Hecht began to follow the vehicle and observed it drive on the fog line for approximately 30 yards.

Officer Hecht initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver who identified herself with a passport. While speaking to the driver, Officer Hecht detected a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. The driver admitted there may be an old marijuana blunt in the ash tray.

Officer Hecht identified the front passenger by Minnesota ID as Darius Paschall (age 33 – St. Paul). Officer Hecht conducted a search of the vehicle and located in the center console the following items:

• 9mm Sig Sauer handgun – loaded with one hollow point bullet in the chamber

• XBG .177 BB gun;

• Plastic baggie containing a while substance that appeared to be methamphetamine;

• Plastic baggie with a green leafy substance;

• Vaping device;

• Glass one-hitter with residue that smell strongly of burned marijuana.

Officer Hecht located the serial number on the Sig Sauer handgun and ran it through dispatch, who later confirmed the handgun was stolen out of St. Paul. Officer Hecht read the driver the Miranda advisory and she agreed to give a statement. The driver stated she was the primary driver of the vehicle and Paschall drives it ocassionally. She stated she picked Paschall up from St. Paul and they made a couple of stops, during which time Paschall was alone in the vehicle. The driver denied knowing anything about illegal items in the vehicle. 

Officer Hecht read Paschall the Miranda advisory and he agreed to give a statement. Paschall admitted his DNA wold be on the Sig Sauer handgun and he recently found the handgun, but did not steal it. Paschall admitted the methamphetamine belonged to him and stated the driver had nothing to do with the gun or drugs.

Paschall was placed under arrest. During the search of his person Officer Hecht located a plastic baggie in his pants pocket that contained a substance that appeared to be methamphetamine.

Paschall also advised Officer Hecht he had a small amount of cocaine in his underwear. During the search Officer Hecht located a small baggie that contained a white substance. The substance later field tested positive as cocaine and weighed .3 grams. The suspected methampetamine later tested positive as methampetamine and weighed 10.3 grams.

Federal criminal history records confirm Paschall was previously convicted of Robbery in Cook County, Illinois in 2009.

Pashcall was charged by criminal complaint with; Felony Possess Ammo/Any Firearm – Conviction or Adjudicated Delinqent for Crime of Violnce, Felony second Degree Possess 10 grams or More Cocaine or Meth and Firearm, Felony third Degree Possess 10 grams or More Narcotic Drug Other Than Heroin, Felony fifth Degree Possession of a Narcotic, Felony Receiving Stolen Property.