Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) – A Beltrami County man is facing a second-degree DWI charge after police say he drove off the road, damaged signs, and later registered a .20 BAC during testing in Bemidji.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Ninth Judicial District Court, the incident occurred during the early morning hours of January 19, 2025. Bemidji Police Officer Hanks was on patrol when he observed vehicle tracks leading off the road and over a median at Paul Bunyan Drive South and Washington Avenue South. Two traffic signs were found knocked down in the area.
Debris led officers to a stalled vehicle on Highway 2, where they made contact with Odawa Littlecreek Bermodes, 27. Police say Bermodes displayed bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and other signs of impairment. A preliminary breath test registered .204 BAC, and further testing at the Beltrami County Jail confirmed a .20 BAC.
Court records indicate Bermodes has a prior DWI conviction in Cass County from 2018. The current charge carries a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.
The case is filed under 04-CR-25-1480 in the Beltrami County District Court.