Moorhead Man Booked on Fleeing Charge
MOORHEAD (trfnews.i234.me) — Louis Vincent Cottonwood was booked into the Clay County Correctional Facility on June 26, 2026.
Cottonwood, 35, was booked at 11:37 a.m., according to the supplied jail record.
The record lists one allegation of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office was listed as the arresting agency.
Details About the Allegation
The short booking entry does not describe the events leading to the arrest.
It does not state where the reported incident happened.
The record also does not list the vehicle, driving conditions, or pursuit length.
No crash, injury, property damage, or passenger information appeared in the supplied entry.
The record does not include a court case number, bail amount, or hearing date.
Those details may appear later in a criminal complaint or court filing.
Minnesota Fleeing Law
Minnesota law defines fleeing as trying to avoid an officer after receiving a signal to stop.
The conduct can include speeding up, turning off lights, or refusing to stop.
A basic motor-vehicle fleeing offense is classified as a felony.
The law requires that the officer was performing an official duty.
It also requires that the driver knew or should have known the person was an officer.
The basic offense can bring up to three years and one day in prison.
It can also carry a fine of up to $5,000.
More serious penalties can apply when fleeing causes injury or death.
The booking entry does not state that either circumstance was alleged.
Any sentence would depend on the filed charge and later court findings.
Court and Custody Information
The Clay County Correctional Facility is located in Moorhead.
The facility houses male and female inmates at several custody levels.
Clay County District Court is also located in Moorhead.
The court handles criminal and traffic cases filed in Clay County.
Public updates may appear through Minnesota Court Records Online.
Jail and court information can change after hearings or new filings.
Charge Remains an Allegation
A jail booking records custody and the allegation listed at that time.
It does not establish guilt or prove that Cottonwood fled from an officer.
Cottonwood is presumed innocent unless the allegation is proven in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.