Thief River Falls Man Charged After DWI Test Refusal
OKLEE, Minn. — (trfnews.i234.me) A Thief River Falls man faces three charges after a June traffic stop near Oklee.
Jared Thomas Swanson, 39, is charged in Red Lake County District Court. The case number is 63-CR-26-87.
The charges include third-degree DWI test refusal, improper cannabis packaging, and speeding. The most serious count is a gross misdemeanor.
All charges are allegations. Swanson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Traffic Stop North of Oklee
The complaint says a sheriff’s deputy was patrolling County Road 5 on June 2. Radar showed a northbound vehicle traveling 70 mph.
The posted speed limit was 55 mph. The stop happened about one mile north of Oklee.
Swanson was driving a black 2011 Lincoln MKX, according to the complaint.
The deputy reported seeing shaking hands, bloodshot eyes, heavy sweating, and restless behavior. Swanson agreed to complete field sobriety tests.
The complaint says the deputy observed several possible signs of impairment. Swanson was arrested at about 6:39 p.m.
Jared Thomas Swanson
Cannabis Found During Vehicle Search
Deputies searched the vehicle after the arrest. They reported finding cannabis and a pipe inside an overhead storage compartment.
The complaint says the cannabis was not stored in packaging required by Minnesota law.
More information about Minnesota cannabis vehicle rules is available through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.
Search Warrant and Alleged Refusal
Swanson was taken to the Red Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators then sought a warrant for a blood or urine sample.
A judge signed the warrant at about 10 p.m., according to the complaint.
The complaint says Swanson plugged his ears and hummed while the warrant was explained.
Investigators asked several times whether he would provide a sample. The complaint says he did not give a direct answer.
Authorities treated his actions as a refusal to comply with the warrant.
The DWI refusal charge carries a maximum sentence of 364 days. It also carries a possible $3,000 fine.
The cannabis packaging and speeding counts are misdemeanors. Each count carries up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Readers can review Minnesota’s DWI law through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes. Public court information is available through Minnesota Court Records Online.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for TRF News.
Copyright 2026 TRF News. All rights reserved.