Bagley: Man Says Truck Broke Down, Faces Driving Charge

BAGLEY, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – Johnathan Martin Phillips, 44, faces a gross misdemeanor charge following a traffic stop in Bagley.

According to a Clearwater County criminal complaint, Phillips allegedly drove his mother’s pickup without a required ignition interlock device.

Phillips reportedly told a deputy that his own truck had broken down, leaving him to use another vehicle.

The incident occurred August 7, 2026, and led to a criminal complaint in Clearwater County District Court.

Traffic Complaint Leads to Bagley Stop

The investigation began around 4:59 p.m. when a Clearwater County deputy received a report about a pickup truck.

Dispatch advised that a caller had reported seeing Phillips driving a black Chevrolet pickup.

The vehicle was reportedly traveling east on 340th Street toward Bagley.

According to the complaint, the caller knew Phillips was required to use an ignition interlock device.

The caller also reported that the pickup did not have the required equipment installed.

A deputy located the vehicle near Central Street West and Sand Lake Avenue Northwest in Bagley.

The deputy stopped the pickup and identified the driver as Johnathan Martin Phillips.

During the traffic stop, Phillips reportedly acknowledged that his driving privileges required an ignition interlock device.

He explained that his own truck had broken down, according to the complaint.

Phillips allegedly said he was driving his mother’s pickup because his regular vehicle was unavailable.

He also acknowledged that his mother’s truck did not have an ignition interlock device.

The criminal complaint does not indicate that Phillips disputed the restriction during the stop.

No separate traffic offenses or impaired-driving allegations appear in the supplied complaint.

An ignition interlock device is installed in a vehicle and checks a driver’s breath alcohol concentration.

Drivers generally must provide an acceptable breath sample before the vehicle can start.

Minnesota requires certain drivers with restricted licenses to operate vehicles equipped with approved ignition interlock devices.

The requirements are outlined in Minnesota Statute 171.306.

Drivers participating in the program must follow the restrictions attached to their driving privileges.

Using another vehicle does not automatically remove those requirements.

Phillips faces one gross misdemeanor charge under Minnesota Statute 171.09, subdivision 1(g).

The charge alleges he operated a vehicle without a functioning ignition interlock device required by his restricted license.

The complaint lists a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both.

Those penalties would apply only following a conviction and depend on the court’s sentencing decision.

The case is filed under Clearwater County Court File No. 15-CR-26-292.

The complaint was issued as a summons in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District.

The supplied court document does not include a scheduled hearing date or further case outcome.

Readers can search available court information through Minnesota Court Records Online.

The charge remains an allegation and does not establish guilt.

Phillips is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.