Robert Earl Johnson Jr., 38, is charged in district court in Minot with Class A felony intent to deliver marijuana while in possession of a firearm on Friday.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the court, the Ward County Narcotics Task Force was conducting surveillance outside the Amtrak train station on Friday after they had received a tip off from the Amtrak police. They spotted a woman carrying a suitcase and a small bag get into Johnson’s 2004 Ford Explorer. Law enforcement tailed the vehicle to Denny’s and then to the Days Inn. They watched the vehicle driving around parking lots and circle both areas without stopping. Officers spotted the occupants of the vehicle passing something back and forth in the Days Inn parking lot. Task Force Officer Ross Lakoduk, who believed they were using narcotics, approached the driver’s side window and made contact with Johnson. The vehicle smelled of burned marijuana and there was smoke in the vehicle.

Officers searched Johnson’s vehicle and found RAW rolling paper coins, 10 foil marijuana baggies, each containing approximately 3.5 grams of marijuana, an electronic scale with marijuana residue, and a loaded pistol with one round in the chamber. One of the bags of marijuana had been opened so the occupants could use the marijuana. Mars had a non-extradiable warrant out of Indiana and initially gave police a fake name, according to the affidavit. She is charged with Class A misdemeanor providing false information to law enforcement. The charge against Johnson is an A felony because he was reportedly in possession of a gun. He is also charged with Class A misdemeanor possession of marijuana paraphernalia.