Bemidji (trfnews.i234.me) — A Cass Lake woman is facing a gross misdemeanor DWI refusal charge after a reported crash in Bemidji.
Mickiah Patsy Ann Staples-Larose is charged in Beltrami County District Court.
The case is filed in Minnesota’s 9th Judicial District under court file 04-CR-26-812.
The charge stems from an April 7, 2026, incident near Paul Bunyan Drive South and Union Street South.
SUV Found Stuck In Snowbank
According to the complaint, law enforcement responded at about 10:37 p.m.
The call involved a reported accident in the city of Bemidji.
When officers arrived, they found a dark-colored SUV off the roadway.
The complaint says the SUV was stuck in a snowbank.
A female was found in the driver’s seat, according to court records.
She was later identified as Mickiah Patsy Ann Staples-Larose.
Authorities said Staples-Larose appeared slumped forward in the vehicle.
The complaint says she appeared to have a drooping or sagging face.
Vehicle keys were later found in the center console.
Complaint Alleges Signs Of Impairment
Law enforcement made contact with Staples-Larose at the scene.
Authorities reported watery, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech.
The complaint also says she had trouble speaking clearly.
Authorities reported difficulty with divided-attention tasks.
While speaking with officers, Staples-Larose allegedly asked them to trade seats.
She allegedly wanted an officer to move her SUV from the snow.
The complaint says she then wanted to leave.
Staples-Larose denied medical help, according to court documents.
Authorities reported that airbags were not deployed.
They also reported no broken glass from the vehicle.
Test Refusal Alleged
Authorities asked Staples-Larose to perform field sobriety tests.
The complaint says she refused to perform those tests.
Staples-Larose allegedly admitted to having “something to drink.”
She allegedly said it “wasn’t much,” according to the complaint.
She later said she had not been drinking.
She also denied driving the vehicle, court records say.
Authorities also asked Staples-Larose to submit to a preliminary breath test.
The complaint says she refused that test.
Staples-Larose was then taken into custody.
She was transported to the Beltrami County Jail.
At the jail, authorities read the Minnesota Breath Test Advisory.
Staples-Larose refused to submit to a breath test, according to the complaint.
Authorities told her that refusal was a crime.
The complaint says she stated she understood, but still refused.
Charge Filed In Beltrami County
Staples-Larose is charged under Minnesota Statute 169A.20.
The complaint also references Minnesota Statute 169A.26.
The charge carries up to 364 days in jail.
It also carries a possible $3,000 fine, or both.
The complaint lists a prior misdemeanor of falsely reporting a crime case.
The current charge is only an accusation.
Staples-Larose is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
More case information may be available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
