Roseau County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Warroad man is facing two gross misdemeanor DWI charges after a traffic stop in Roseau County, according to a criminal complaint filed in Minnesota’s 9th Judicial District.
The defendant is identified as Aaron Laverne Knutson, 36, of Warroad. Prosecutors charged Knutson with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. He is also charged with operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more within two hours.
What The Complaint Says
The complaint says the stop happened on January 25, 2026, at about 1:04 a.m. A state trooper was patrolling northbound on Minnesota Highway 313 in Roseau County. The trooper saw a Chevrolet Silverado move into a turn lane near Lakeview Drive.
According to the complaint, the truck had a non-working third brake light. That led to the traffic stop.
When the trooper made contact with the driver, the complaint says there was an odor of alcohol inside the vehicle. There were three people in the truck. Knutson was identified as the driver.
The complaint says Knutson did not have proof of insurance with him. He said the truck belonged to the front seat passenger. He also said he was driving because that passenger was intoxicated.
Test Results Listed In Court Filing
The complaint says Knutson took part in limited field sobriety testing. The filing lists signs of impairment, including lack of smooth pursuit, nystagmus, and slurred speech. No other field tests were done because of extreme cold. The complaint says the temperature was about 28 below zero.
Knutson then gave a preliminary breath test, according to the complaint. That test showed a result of 0.153. After his arrest, the complaint says he was taken to the Roseau County Detention Center. A DataMaster test there showed a result of 0.15.
The complaint also says Knutson has a qualifying implied consent revocation from 2018. Prosecutors listed that as the aggravating factor in the case.
What Happens Next
The case is now in Roseau County District Court. Formal charges are allegations only. Knutson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Readers can review official Minnesota DWI laws here:
Minnesota Statute 169A.20 and
Minnesota Statute 169A.26.
Court information is also available through the
Roseau County Court Administrator.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.