Charges filed against I-35 shooter

Donald Ray Sanderson, 41, of Minneapolis was charged today (7/23/24) with multiple felonies in connection with the closure of Interstate 35 near Faribault on Sunday, July 21, 2024.

Sanderson made his first court appearance before 3rd Judicial District Judge Karie Anderson in a Rice County courtroom.

The criminal complaint states: “On July 21, 2024, an officer with the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office and Southeast Minnesota Violent Crime Enforcement Team (SMVCET) learned that Donald Ray Sanderson was approaching Minnesota after traveling to California. California is known as a source state for narcotics. SMVCET investigated Sanderson for drug-related crimes.”

“Police attempted to stop the vehicle on Interstate 35 in Steele County using stop sticks. The vehicle stopped at mile marker 37 at approximately 2:44 p.m. and Lindsey Wade Stolpa, 28, exited the vehicle. The vehicle then continued north on I-35.”

The complaint states that Stolpa was arrested and told police that Sanderson had a gun in the car.

“Police continued to follow the vehicle until it stopped at mile marker 57, within the Faribault city limits, due to the crippling damage at approximately 2:57 p.m. Sanderson exited the vehicle with a firearm in his hand. The officer following Sanderson exited his vehicle and ordered Sanderson to drop the weapon. Sanderson did not comply and fired a single round into the ground near him.”

The complaint states: “Sanderson continued to ignore police commands to drop his weapon and police closed the freeway while they attempted to negotiate with him. At 6:52 p.m., Sanderson attempted to shoot a drone and at 6:58 p.m., he attempted to shoot himself under the chin. However, he lost the firearm and fled east of the freeway into an open farm field. An Apple Valley K-9 was deployed and the dog shot Sanderson.”

Sanderson’s vehicle was searched pursuant to a warrant, which found “hypodermic needles scattered throughout the vehicle. White powder and white pills were located on the driver’s seat.”

The complaint states: “The total weight of the methamphetamine found in the vehicle was 44 pounds.”

Sanderson was charged with four counts of drug possession, two counts of drug possession and two counts of sales, and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon.

The criminal complaint further stated: “The suspect has an extensive criminal past.”

A press release from the Rice County Sheriff’s Office states: “The incident required a closure of the highway (in both directions) from 2:52 p.m. until shortly after 7:00 p.m.

Residents in the area were also told to shelter in place. “For the next several hours, the male was walking around this area of ​​I-35 armed with a handgun.”

The Rice County Sheriff’s Office received assistance from South Metro SWAT, Minnesota State Patrol and its Special Response Team (SRT), the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office Drone Unit, and the Faribault and Northfield police departments.