Thief River Falls Man Charged With High BAC DWI

Pennington County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Thief River Falls man is facing a gross misdemeanor DWI charge after a traffic stop led to allegations of impaired driving.

Loren Michael Pittman, 57, of Thief River Falls, is charged in Pennington County District Court with third-degree driving while impaired. The charge involves an alleged blood alcohol concentration of .16 or greater.

Court records show the charge is connected to an incident reported on June 27, 2026. The complaint states Pittman’s alcohol concentration was measured at .18 within two hours of driving.

Traffic Stop Led To DWI Investigation

According to the criminal complaint, authorities observed a vehicle traveling on 140th Street NE near the intersection of 150th Avenue NE.

The complaint states the vehicle crossed the center line and nearly struck a patrol vehicle. It also alleges the vehicle continued weaving within its lane.

The vehicle was later stopped, and the driver was identified as Loren Michael Pittman.

According to court documents, Pittman told authorities he was returning home from work. He also said he had consumed beer in Goodridge before driving.

The complaint states that authorities noticed signs of possible impairment. Those signs included slurred speech and the smell of alcohol coming from the vehicle.

Loren Michael Pittman booking photo

Field Tests And Breath Test Results

The complaint states that Pittman agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tests.

According to the report, Pittman had difficulty with balance during the tests. The complaint says he stumbled, stepped off the line, and used his arms for balance.

Pittman also told authorities he had a previous hip replacement. He said this affected his ability to balance.

A preliminary breath test reportedly showed a result of .19.

After the test, Pittman was arrested on suspicion of impaired driving. Authorities said two coolers containing unopened beer cans were located in the truck bed.

Charges Filed In Pennington County

Pittman was transported to the Pennington County Jail. Court documents state he was advised of his rights regarding chemical testing.

The complaint states that Pittman requested to speak with an attorney but later agreed to take a breath test.

The final breath test reportedly showed an alcohol concentration of .18.

The charge against Pittman is a gross misdemeanor. A conviction could result in up to 364 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both.

All charges are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

More information about Minnesota DWI laws can be found through the Minnesota Legislature.

I’m Adrian Cole, reporting for TRF News.