WORTHINGTON — A Comfrey resident was detained in Nobles County on May 2, following a traffic stop in the city of Worthington.
Brennan Holmen, 28, is charged with third-degree controlled substance sale, fifth-degree drug possession, and possession of a stun gun by a prohibited person, all felony-level offenses. Holmen also faces one misdemeanor count of possession of over 1.4 grams of marijuana in a motor vehicle.
The charges resulted after a Worthington Police officer observed Holmen traveling over the posted speed limit and crossing the fog line. A traffic stop was initiated, and once pulled over, Holmen exited the vehicle immediately without being asked. The officer observed two knives on Holmen and removed them before conducting a pat-down for additional weapons. None were located.
While Holmen was retrieving his insurance card from inside the car, the officer observed a large machete inside and a bat under the seat. The officer informed Holmen he would be conducting an officer safety pat-down of his vehicle for additional weapons. During the search, two bats were located under the driver’s seat, a “dagger style” knife was found in the driver’s side door compartment, and another knife in the backseat. The officer also noted a police radar detector attached to the front windshield.
Other officers arrived on the scene, as the first officer looked up Holmen’s license and criminal history. He observed three controlled substance arrests from 2020, one of which was a felony conviction and would prohibit Holmen from possessing firearms.
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Holmen stated he was in Worthington dropping off a friend and that there was nothing illegal inside the vehicle. He declined to allow consent for a full vehicle search.
A Nobles County deputy was on scene with his K9 partner, who conducted an exterior sniff of the vehicle and reportedly alerted to the presence of a controlled substance. A full search of the vehicle was conducted, during which a backpack was located.
Inside the backpack, law enforcement reportedly located a rubber hose with an attached glass pipe, a plastic cup containing white residue, a scale containing white residue, a small black pouch with a digital scale, a glass coaster, and a glass plate with white residue, all of which field-tested positive for methamphetamine. A butane fuel canister, a torch lighter, and a pipe/hose cleaner were also found.
Law enforcement also located an insurance card with Holmen’s name, a zip-lock bag with white crystals and another zip-lock bag containing brown crystals, according to the report. Both substances field-tested positive for methamphetamine and their contents collectively weighed 9.69 grams.
In the trunk, officers located two catalytic converters with rough cuts on the ends, a Sawzall, a “DEA” police vest, a silver police-style badge that said “security officer,” and a zip-lock bag containing 3.14 grams of marijuana, Sawzall blades, two sets of construction handheld lights and a pair of black coveralls covered with dirt. A stun gun was reportedly located in the driver’s side door compartment.
Holmen was arrested and transported to the Nobles County Jail. His bail was set at $10,000 with conditions. He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance May 18.
If convicted, Holmen faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine for the controlled substance sale charge. The drugs and stun gun possession charges both carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine.
