Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) — A criminal complaint says a Highway 2 traffic stop led to three charges.
The driver was identified as Shayla Lee French, born September 20, 1999. Court records list her address in Ponemah, Minnesota.
The complaint says a baby was in a car seat during the stop. An adult passenger, Dalton Lee Defoe, born February 5, 2002, was also in the vehicle.
Traffic stop on Highway 2
According to the complaint, a deputy saw a suspended object near the windshield. The stop happened at about 5:29 p.m. on February 20, 2026.
The complaint says the deputy noticed red, glassy eyes. The deputy also confirmed French’s driver’s license was revoked.
Court records say French was asked to exit the vehicle. The complaint says she reported taking gabapentin, 100 milligrams, three times daily.
The complaint also says French admitted to marijuana use. The deputy then did field sobriety testing, according to the filing.
The deputy reported poor eye tracking in both eyes. The complaint also describes trouble following directions and hand movements.
Later, French said she used methamphetamine within three days, the complaint says. Investigators then sought a warrant for blood or urine testing.
French chose to provide a urine sample, according to the complaint. The filing says the sample was to be sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for testing.
Charges filed in the district court
The case was filed in Beltrami County District Court. The court file number listed is 04-CR-26-491. The prosecutor’s file number listed is 0040091486.
French is charged with a gross misdemeanor, second-degree DWI. The complaint alleges a Schedule I or II drug, or its metabolite, was in her body.
French is also charged with gross misdemeanor child endangerment. The complaint alleges a child was placed in a situation likely to cause serious harm.
A third count alleges driving after revocation. That count is listed as a misdemeanor.
Statutes and possible penalties
Court records list up to 364 days in jail for each gross misdemeanor count. Records also list up to a $3,000 fine for each gross misdemeanor count.
The driving after revocation count lists up to 90 days in jail. It also lists up to a $1,000 fine.
You can read the cited laws here:
Minnesota Statute 169A.20,
Minnesota Statute 169A.25,
Minnesota Statute 609.378,
and Minnesota Statute 171.24.
More on the agency handling lab work is available here: Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Record summary and next steps
The complaint summary lists prior convictions tied to French’s record. It lists DWI convictions from 2021 in Beltrami County and Crow Wing County.
It also lists a 2025 gross misdemeanor conviction for giving a false name. Those entries are part of the complaint summary.
A criminal complaint contains allegations. French is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.