Bemidji Man Faces 4 Charges After Police Chase

Bemidji (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bemidji man faces four charges following an alleged July police pursuit.

Brian Michael Rinkenberger, 38, faces one felony, one gross misdemeanor, and two misdemeanor charges.

The most serious charge is felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.

Prosecutors also charged him with driving after cancellation, a title violation, and lacking proof of insurance.

Trooper Reports Dangerous Driving

The incident began around 7:43 a.m. on July 11, 2026, according to the criminal complaint.

A Minnesota State Patrol trooper noticed a red GMC Sierra traveling east on U.S. Highway 2.

The truck had an extremely loud exhaust and continued toward Minnesota Highway 197.

The complaint says the driver passed another vehicle inside a construction zone.

The Sierra allegedly entered the opposing lane, passed in a no-passing zone, and ran a red light.

The trooper then activated emergency lights and attempted a traffic stop.

Instead, prosecutors allege the Sierra accelerated along Menards Road and through several business parking lots.

The pursuit continued near Menards and L&M Fleet Supply.

The complaint says the trooper tried to position the squad for a pursuit intervention maneuver.

The Sierra then allegedly turned sharply in front of the squad.

The vehicles collided, leaving the patrol vehicle with disabling front-end damage.

The trooper pushed the Sierra into a ditch, where the truck struck a dirt pile.

Prosecutors say the Sierra then accelerated through the dirt and returned to U.S. Highway 2.

The pursuit lasted about 0.9 miles, according to court records.

The trooper was not injured.

Deputies contacted the registered owner of the GMC Sierra after the pursuit.

The owner said the truck had been sold to Rinkenberger on April 29, 2026.

Investigators allege Rinkenberger had not transferred the vehicle title.

Authorities also determined his driver’s license was cancelled as inimical to public safety.

The complaint says a driver’s license photograph matched the person seen driving the Sierra.

Law enforcement searched several locations connected to Rinkenberger but did not locate him.

A woman told investigators he had arrived at her residence later that morning.

Police searched the residence, but Rinkenberger was no longer there.

Prosecutors requested an arrest warrant because Rinkenberger’s location was unknown when the complaint was filed.

The felony fleeing charge carries up to three years and one day in prison.

It also carries a possible $5,000 fine.

Readers can review Minnesota Statute 609.487 concerning fleeing police.

The license charge is covered by Minnesota Statute 171.24.

The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court.

Rinkenberger is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.