Roseau County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Badger-area man faces several charges after a late-night traffic stop in Roseau County, according to a criminal complaint.
Kopen Lins Sandstrom, 48, of Roseau, is charged with two gross misdemeanor DWI counts. He also faces misdemeanor counts tied to firearm transport, insurance, and cannabis packaging.
Traffic Stop in Badger
The complaint says the stop happened on February 24, 2026, at about 9:37 p.m. in Badger.
Authorities said they saw a Ford F-150 with a license plate light that was not working. The pickup was then followed onto local streets before stopping at a residence.
According to the complaint, two AR-15-style rifles were seen inside the truck. One was near the driver’s seat. The other was near the front passenger seat.
Alcohol, Cannabis, and Firearms
The complaint says Sandstrom told authorities the truck was probably not insured. He also said the cannabis pipe in the cup holder was his.
Authorities said Sandstrom then handed over a bag of marijuana from the center console. He also said the rifles were loaded, according to the complaint.
The complaint says Sandstrom admitted he had been drinking beer. Authorities said he told them his last beer was about 10 minutes earlier.
Authorities also said Sandstrom told them he was probably over the legal limit. A passenger, Dillon Howell, was also in the truck.
Breath Test Results Listed
The complaint says Sandstrom took field sobriety tests at the scene. Authorities said he later gave a preliminary breath test that measured 0.106.
After his arrest, the complaint says he gave two breath samples at the jail. The reported DataMaster result was 0.11 at 10:26 p.m.
Authorities also said one rifle had a loaded magazine and a round in the chamber. The second rifle was not loaded, but a loaded magazine was found nearby.
Prior DWI Conviction Cited
The complaint says Sandstrom has a prior DWI conviction from Becker County in 2018. That earlier case is listed as an aggravating factor.
Because of that prior case, the two DWI counts were filed as gross misdemeanors. The other three counts were filed as misdemeanors.
A criminal complaint contains allegations. The charges must still be proven in court.
Related Resources
- Minnesota DWI law
- Minnesota firearm transport law
- Minnesota impaired driving information
- Minnesota Court Records Online
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.