The Val Johnson Patrol Car Incident

On August 27, 1979, Deputy Sheriff Val Johnson of Marshall County, Minnesota encountered an unknown object that damaged his patrol car and left him unconscious. The incident produced remarkable physical evidence that has never been adequately explained.

The Encounter

Deputy Johnson was on routine patrol on State Highway 220 near Stephen, Minnesota, at approximately 1:40 AM. He observed a bright light through his windshield, initially believing it might be an aircraft in distress or a smuggler’s plane.

As Johnson approached to investigate, the light suddenly moved toward his vehicle at tremendous speed. He was blinded by an intense flash and lost consciousness.

Aftermath

Johnson awoke at 2:19 AM—approximately 39 minutes after the encounter began. His patrol car had traveled 854 feet and was sitting sideways across the road. He radioed for assistance, reporting he’d been “struck by something.”

When help arrived, Johnson exhibited eye injuries consistent with “welder’s flash” (photokeratitis), suggesting exposure to intense ultraviolet light. He was hospitalized and unable to work for several days.

The Physical Evidence

The patrol car showed extensive damage:

Windshield: Two separate impact points with circular patterns. The glass was fractured but not shattered, with cracks radiating outward. The damage pattern was inconsistent with a physical impact—the glass appeared to have been stressed from the inside.

Headlight: One headlight was shattered, again with unusual fracture patterns.

Hood: A dent appeared on the hood that couldn’t be matched to any known cause.

Antenna: The roof-mounted antenna was bent at a 60-degree angle. Engineers noted it would require 40 pounds of force to bend, yet showed no scrape marks or evidence of physical impact.

Clocks: Most remarkably, both Johnson’s wristwatch and the patrol car’s clock were exactly 14 minutes slow. Both had been accurate before the incident.

Investigation

The case was investigated by multiple parties:

Sheriff Dennis Brecke: Conducted the initial investigation and vouched for Johnson’s character and credibility.

Allan Hendry (CUFOS): UFO investigator Hendry performed extensive analysis, ruling out conventional explanations including aircraft, ball lightning, and optical phenomena.

Ford Motor Company: Engineers examined the vehicle and could not explain the damage patterns, particularly to the windshield and antenna.

The patrol car was preserved and is now displayed at the Marshall County Museum, where visitors can examine the damage.

Missing Time

The 14-minute discrepancy between the clocks and the external timeline has never been explained. Johnson’s encounter lasted approximately 39 minutes by external measures, but the clocks suggest something different occurred.

The possibility of missing time—a common element in close encounter cases—adds another dimension to an already puzzling incident.

Theories

Various explanations have been proposed:

Ball Lightning: Some suggested a rare electrical phenomenon, but ball lightning doesn’t explain the systematic clock delays or the specific damage patterns.

Military Aircraft: The area was occasionally used for training, but no flights were scheduled and the damage doesn’t match known aircraft effects.

Hoax: Johnson had an exemplary record with no history of fabrication. The extensive physical evidence would require elaborate staging.

Unknown Phenomenon: The case remains officially unexplained, with investigators unable to identify any natural or artificial source.

Physical Evidence Analysis

Dr. Bruce Maccabee examined photographs and reports, noting:

• The windshield fractures originated from inside the glass
• The antenna bend showed no contact marks
• Clock delay couldn’t be replicated by any known means
• Johnson’s eye injuries were genuine

Legacy

The Val Johnson incident stands out among UFO cases for its extensive physical evidence. Unlike cases relying solely on witness testimony, the damaged patrol car provides tangible proof that something unusual occurred.

The car remains on public display, allowing anyone to examine the evidence firsthand—a rare opportunity in a field often criticized for lacking physical proof.

Deputy Johnson maintained his account until his death, never sensationalizing or profiting from the experience. He simply reported what happened and let the evidence speak for itself.