Minneapolis, Minnesota – August 31, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –

Minnesota criminal defense attorney Ryan P. Garry has secured the dismissal of all felony drug charges against a client after successfully challenging the expansion of a traffic stop and subsequent K9 search in Mille Lacs County District Court, Minnesota. The main witness testified that he withheld information from the police reports, hiding it from the prosecution, the court, and, most importantly, the defense attorney.

In an order filed July 29, 2026, the District Court Judge Mark J. Herzing granted the defense motion to suppress the drugs and paraphernalia seized from the client’s vehicle and dismissed all charges, resulting in a complete acquittal for Ryan’s client. The client was facing an extensive prison sentence if convicted, and Ryan’s challenge to the search of her vehicle showed the arresting officers’ conduct was illegal.

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The ruling followed an April 9, 2026, contested hearing during which Attorney Ryan Garry challenged whether law enforcement had sufficient reasonable, articulable suspicion to transform a traffic stop into a drug investigation and K9 search. Two police officers testified at the hearing.

The case began when officers stopped the client after observing the vehicle traveling 76 mph in a 45-mph zone. The defense initially did not challenge the officers’ authority to make the initial traffic stop, but that changed during the hearing. Ryan’s main challenge focused on what occurred after officers questioned the driver and checked the client’s driving record. According to the court’s findings, officers continued questioning the client about matters including travel plans, luggage, the use of a rental vehicle, and the presence of three cell phones.

The client declined the officers’ request to search the vehicle. An officer subsequently conducted a K9 sniff around the vehicle. After the dog alerted, officers searched the vehicle and discovered drugs that became the basis for multiple felony controlled-substance charges.

Judge Herzing concluded that officers illegally expanded the stop after completing the legitimate investigation associated with the speeding violation and did so without the required reasonable, articulable, objective suspicion of criminal activity.

A significant issue developed during the contested hearing concerning information that had not appeared in the arresting officer’s original police report. The officer testified that, before the traffic stop, he had received information from an unidentified Brainerd-area officer indicating that the client had allegedly been observed at a known drug house. According to the court’s order, this information was not included in any report and was not revealed to the prosecutor until witness preparation the day before the hearing. The court described the officer’s testimony concerning the alleged drug house information as inherently incredible based on the surrounding circumstances.

The work of Ryan Garry – MN Drug Crimes Attorney underscored the value of aggressive cross-examination and careful examination of police reports, body-camera footage, and other evidence. “This case reveals that some police officers hide information about their investigation to make the government’s case stronger, and that unethical and sloppy law enforcement work cannot stand in this country, and defense attorneys need to be aggressive and diligent in representing their clients to reveal this very disturbing and unethical behavior,” Garry said.

Because the K9 sniff and resulting search flowed from an unlawful expansion of the stop, the court ruled that the drugs and paraphernalia had been unlawfully obtained and must be suppressed, resulting in a dismissal of all drug charges. Without that evidence, the court dismissed all controlled-substance charges and directed that the case file be dismissed and closed. The decision illustrates that a lawful traffic stop does not automatically grant law enforcement unlimited authority to investigate unrelated criminal activity.

The outcome reflects the practice of Ryan Garry – Criminal Defense Attorney, which emphasizes constitutional challenges, motion practice, and trial preparation in cases where a client’s freedom and future are at stake.

Ryan Garry LLC is a Minnesota-based criminal defense law firm that represents individuals and businesses facing accusations and criminal charges brought by the state of Minnesota and the federal government. Founded by Ryan P. Garry, who is recognized as a Minnesota Criminal Law Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association, the firm handles matters including drug crimes, criminal sexual conduct, assault, DWI, white-collar crimes, federal crimes, expungement, and investigation. Past case results do not guarantee future outcomes, and every criminal case depends on its individual facts and circumstances.

Minnesota criminal defense attorney Ryan P. Garry has secured the dismissal of all felony drug charges against a client after he successfully challenged the expansion of a traffic stop and subsequent K9 search in Mille Lacs County District Court, Minnesota. The main witness testified that he withheld important information from his police reports – hiding the information from the prosecution, the Court, and most importantly the defense attorney.

In an order filed July 29, 2026, the District Court Judge granted the defense motion to suppress the drugs and paraphernalia seized from the client’s vehicle and dismissed all charges, resulting in a complete acquittal for Ryan’s client. His client was facing an extensive prison sentence if convicted, and Ryan’s challenge to the search of her vehicle showed the arresting officers’ conduct was illegal.

The ruling followed an April 9, 2026, contested hearing during which Attorney Ryan Garry challenged whether law enforcement had sufficient reasonable, articulable suspicion to transform a traffic stop into a drug investigation and K9 search. Two police officers testified at the hearing.

The case began when officers stopped the client after observing the vehicle traveling 76 mph in a 45-mph zone. The defense initially did not challenge the officers’ authority to make the initial traffic stop, but that changed during the hearing. The main focus of Ryan’s challenge fell on what occurred after officers had questioned the driver and checked the client’s driving record. According to the court’s findings, officers continued questioning the client about matters including travel plans, luggage, the use of a rental vehicle, and the presence of three cell phones.

The client declined the officers’ request to search the vehicle. An officer subsequently conducted a K9 sniff around the vehicle. After the dog alerted, officers searched the vehicle and discovered drugs that became the basis for multiple felony controlled-substance charges.

Judge Herzing concluded that officers illegally expanded the stop after completing the legitimate investigation associated with the speeding violation and did so without the required reasonable, articulable, objective suspicion of criminal activity.

A significant issue developed during the contested hearing concerning information that had not appeared in the arresting officer’s original police report. The officer testified that, before the traffic stop, he had received information from an unidentified Brainerd-area officer indicating that the client had allegedly been observed at a known drug house. According to the court’s order, this information was not included in any report and was not revealed to the prosecutor until witness preparation the day before the hearing. The court described the officer’s testimony concerning the alleged drug house information as inherently incredible based on the surrounding circumstances.

The work of Ryan Garry – MN Drug Crimes Attorney underscored the value of aggressive cross-examination and careful examination of police reports, body-camera footage, and other evidence. “This case reveals that some police officers hide information about their investigation to make the government’s case stronger, and that unethical and sloppy law enforcement work cannot stand in this country, and defense attorneys need to be aggressive and diligent in representing their clients to reveal this very disturbing and unethical behavior,” Garry said.

Because the K9 sniff and resulting search flowed from an unlawful expansion of the stop, the court ruled that the drugs and paraphernalia had been unlawfully obtained and must be suppressed, resulting in a dismissal of all drug charges. Without that evidence, the court dismissed all controlled-substance charges and directed that the case file be dismissed and closed. The decision illustrates that a lawful traffic stop does not automatically grant law enforcement unlimited authority to investigate unrelated criminal activity.

The outcome reflects the practice of Ryan Garry – Criminal Defense Attorney, which emphasizes constitutional challenges, motion practice, and trial preparation in cases where a client’s freedom and future are at stake.

Ryan Garry LLC is a Minnesota-based criminal defense law firm that represents individuals and businesses facing accusations and criminal charges brought by the state of Minnesota and the federal government. He runs a boutique, specialized law firm and takes on a limited number of cases that he personally handles with his team. His practice is proactive in many cases, conducting his own investigations with licensed private investigators, most of whom are former state and federal law enforcement officers.

Founded by Ryan P. Garry, who is recognized as a Minnesota Criminal Law Specialist by the Minnesota State Bar Association, a designation reserved for 3% of the top criminal defense attorneys in the State. The firm handles matters including drug crimes, criminal sexual conduct, assault, white-collar crimes, federal crimes, expungement, and investigation.

Past case results do not guarantee future outcomes, and every criminal case depends on its individual facts and circumstances.

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For more information about Ryan Garry LLC, contact the company here:

Ryan Garry – Minnesota Criminal Defense Lawyers
Ryan Garry
(612) 436-3051
ryan@ryangarry.com
333 S 7th St #2350
Minneapolis, MN 55402

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