Baudette, Lake of the Woods County (trfnews.i234.me) A Baudette man is accused of driving while impaired. Court records name him as Faron Ray Olson, 70.
Olson faces two gross misdemeanor counts of third-degree driving while impaired. The charges cite Minnesota Statutes 169A.20.1(1) and 169A.20.1(5).
What is alleged
A criminal complaint says deputies were called at about 5:42 p.m. on January 27, 2026. A witness reported a driver passed out in a Dodge pickup.
The complaint says the truck was parked in the middle of Main Avenue South in Baudette. The witness said it sat there for about ten minutes.
Ambulance staff arrived first, the complaint says. They told deputies the driver smelled of alcohol. They also said the driver did not seem to need medical care.
Paramedics asked Olson to pull ahead and clear the road, according to the complaint. Instead, Olson allegedly put the truck in reverse.
Deputies then spoke with Olson, the complaint says. They reported bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. Olson allegedly said he was going home. He also reportedly admitted to drinking beer and whiskey.
Tests and arrest
The complaint says Olson had trouble with field sobriety tests. It says he stumbled during a one-legged stand. It also says he could not walk a straight line.
A preliminary breath test at the scene showed 0.195, according to the complaint. Olson was arrested soon after. A jail breath test later showed 0.19.
Court and bail
Olson made his first court appearance on January 28, 2026. Judge Michael Patrick Grover set bail at $12,000 without conditions.
The court also allowed release with conditions and $0 bail. Conditions included staying law-abiding and returning to court.
Resources
Readers can track public case entries through Minnesota Court Records Online. For more on impaired driving risks, see the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.