Charges: Man who sparked armed standoff that closed I-35 had 44 lbs. of meth in car

The man who sparked an armed standoff with police that closed I-35 near Faribault Sunday has been charged with multiple drugs offenses.

Donald Ray Sanderson, 44, from Minneapolis is facing five felony charges after the standoff on I-35 between police led to the discovery of about 44 lbs. of methamphetamine in his car that at the street level could have a value well in excess of $1 million.

According to the criminal complaint, an agent of the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office and the Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team (SMVCET), learned that Sanderson was returning to Minnesota after traveling to California.

SMVCET had been investigating Sanderson for narcotics related crimes and decided to have law enforcement attempt to stop his vehicle on Interstate 35 in Steele County by utilizing stop sticks.

He pulled over at mile marker 37 at about 2:44 p.m. and a 29-year-old woman exited the car, which then continued to go north on I-35.

The woman, who was arrested, told officers that Sanderson had a gun in the car with him. Police continued to follow him until he came to a stop at 2:57 p.m. near mile marker 57, within the city limits of Faribault.

Sanderson came out of the car holding a gun. The agent exited his car and ordered Sanderson to drop the weapon. Sanderson did not do so and allegedly fired a single round into the ground near him.

After continuing to ignore officers commands to drop the weapon, the interstate was shut down as negotiations were undertaken.

At 6:52 p.m., Sanderson attempted to shoot a drone and then at 6:58 p.m. attempted to shoot himself under the chin. However, he lost the firearm and fled east from the interstate into an open field.

An Apple Valley K-9 was sent to find him and eventually took down Sanderson. His car was searched with a warrant, and found hypodermic needles littered throughout the vehicle and white powder and pills on the driver’s seat.

In the haul, officers found 14,944.3 grams of meth, 43 white oval pills identified as .25 mg of Alprazolam and 7 rectangular white pills identified as 2 mg of Alprazolam. Alprazolam is a schedule IV controlled substance,

Counterfeit oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl were also found, along with multiple cell phones and $293.

Sanderson has been previously convicted of a violent crime felony, which prohibits him from possessing a gun.

If convicted of all charges, he could face up to 135 years in prison.