Wilton DWI Arrest Follows Bar Tab Report
WILTON, Minnesota (trfnews.i234.me) — A Wisconsin man is facing a gross misdemeanor DWI charge after a report of an unpaid bar tab led to a traffic stop near Wilton.
According to a Beltrami County court complaint, Michael Kenneth Rainey, 37, of Cumberland, Wisconsin, was charged after an incident on May 21, 2026.
The case was filed in Beltrami County District Court under court file number 04-CR-26-1170.
Bar Tab Report Leads To Traffic Stop
The complaint states that deputies were sent to the Wilton Liquor Store at about 1:01 a.m.
A bartender reported that a woman tried to pay a $73 tab with another person’s bank card.
The bartender said the woman and others then left in a black sedan with a white roof.
The vehicle was later stopped on Highway 2 NW. The complaint identifies the vehicle as a 2011 Ford Flex.
Authorities said the vehicle was registered to Cheyenne Rose Hindsley.
Rainey was identified as the driver. Hindsley and another passenger were also inside.
Court Complaint Alleges Impairment
The complaint says Hindsley admitted involvement in trying to use the card.
She also said she would take responsibility for the incident.
The bartender told deputies the group had drinks shortly before closing time.
Investigators said Rainey had a revoked license. He also had an active Wisconsin OWI warrant.
According to the complaint, Rainey showed signs of impairment before his arrest.
At the Beltrami County Jail, a preliminary breath test showed 0.212.
A later Datamaster test showed 0.19 at about 2:39 a.m.
Minnesota law bars driving with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher. More information is available through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.
Rainey is charged with DWI involving an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more within two hours.
The complaint lists the charge as a gross misdemeanor under Minnesota law.
The maximum penalty is 364 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both.
Court records also cited a prior OWI arrest in Barron County, Wisconsin, in November 2025.
One passenger was taken to Sanford Health due to alcohol consumption, according to the complaint.
Trespass notices were issued to all three people.
A criminal complaint is not a conviction. Rainey is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Additional Minnesota court information is available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.