The Marshall County UFO

On August 27, 1979, Marshall County Deputy Sheriff Val Johnson encountered a brilliant UFO while patrolling in rural Minnesota. The object approached his patrol car, causing electrical damage and breaking both headlights and windshield. Johnson suffered eye injuries similar to welder’s flash. Multiple other witnesses reported seeing the same object.

The Encounter

At approximately 1:40 AM:

• Deputy Johnson was patrolling near Warren, Minnesota
• He noticed a bright light he assumed was an aircraft
• The light rapidly approached his patrol car
• There was a brilliant flash

The Impact

Johnson’s next memory:

• He was slumped over the steering wheel
• Approximately 40 minutes had passed
• His eyes were burning intensely
• His car had physical damage

Vehicle Damage

Examination revealed:

• Both headlights broken from the inside out
• Windshield cracked in a circular pattern
• Radio antenna bent at 90 degrees
• Dashboard clock stopped for 14 minutes
• Watch also stopped for 14 minutes

Physical Effects

Johnson suffered:

• Eye injuries consistent with “welder’s flash” (UV exposure)
• Required sunglasses for several days
• Medical examination confirmed the burns
• No explanation for the UV source

The Missing Time

The time discrepancy was notable:

• Both car clock and Johnson’s watch stopped
• 14-minute gap unaccounted for
• Johnson had no memory of this period
• The synchronization was unexplained

Other Witnesses

Multiple other people reported the object:

• Witnesses across Marshall County
• Similar descriptions of brilliant light
• Reports from the same time period
• Corroborated Johnson’s account

Investigation

The case was extensively investigated:

• Sheriff’s department documented everything
• The patrol car was examined by Ford engineers
• The Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS) investigated
• Dr. J. Allen Hynek examined the case

Technical Analysis

Engineers found:

• Damage inconsistent with conventional explanations
• No sign of collision with solid object
• Electrical effects throughout the vehicle
• No known mechanism for the damage pattern

Johnson’s Credibility

Deputy Johnson:

• Had an impeccable record
• No history of unusual claims
• Passed polygraph examination
• Maintained his account consistently

Significance

The Marshall County case is significant for:

• Law enforcement witness
• Multiple independent witnesses
• Physical evidence (vehicle damage)
• Medical evidence (eye injuries)
• Time anomaly (stopped clocks)
• Professional investigation

Legacy

The Val Johnson encounter remains one of the best-documented close encounter cases with physical effects. The combination of vehicle damage, medical injuries, time anomalies, and corroborating witnesses has made it a cornerstone of physical trace research.