Pine River (trfnews.i234.me) — A Pine River man faces felony and gross misdemeanor charges after a traffic stop in Cass County.
A criminal complaint names Robert Fredrick Basler, 58, as the defendant. Court records say he faces fifth-degree drug possession and third-degree DWI test refusal charges.
What the complaint says
According to the complaint, the stop happened on Highway 371. A deputy reported an expired registration and a broken third brake light.
The complaint also says the deputy saw signs of possible impairment. Those signs included bloodshot eyes and pupils that did not react to light.
Basler then agreed to field sobriety testing, according to the complaint. The complaint says the deputy later searched the vehicle after getting consent.
During that search, the deputy found about 0.62 grams of suspected methamphetamine in a zippered glasses case, the complaint says.
Authorities then took Basler to the Cass County Detention Center, according to the complaint. Investigators later obtained a warrant for a blood or urine sample.
The complaint says Basler refused to provide a sample. It also says a field test gave a presumptive positive result for methamphetamine.
Charge details
Court records say Basler had a prior felony drug conviction on February 23, 2023. That earlier case is listed in the complaint as a prior controlled substance conviction.
The new felony drug count cites Minnesota Statute 152.025. The refusal count cites Minnesota Statute 169A.20 and Minnesota Statute 169A.26.
Under Minnesota law, fifth-degree possession can be charged as a felony in some controlled substance cases. State law also makes it a crime to refuse a chemical test ordered by warrant.
Date issue in the complaint
The complaint lists the offense date as November 18, 2025. But the probable cause section describes a stop on November 11, 2025.
That difference may be addressed later in court. Public case updates can be followed through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
What happens next
Charges in a complaint are allegations, not convictions. Basler is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The case was filed in Cass County District Court. Future hearings, motions, and plea entries may appear in public court records.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
