Beltrami County ( trfnews.i234.me ) — Woman Accused of Faking Sleep to Avoid DWI Test
A Pennington woman is facing a second-degree DWI refusal charge after reportedly pretending to sleep to avoid a breath test following a traffic stop near Blackduck, Minnesota. According to a criminal complaint filed in Beltrami County District Court, Amanda Lynn Charwood, 38, was charged with gross misdemeanor DWI test refusal after deputies say she refused both field and chemical testing.
According to the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, the incident happened around 1:47 p.m. on October 1, 2025. A deputy responded to a report of a vehicle stopped along Scenic Highway just south of Blackduck with a person trying to flag down passing drivers. When the deputy arrived, he found two people asleep inside a vehicle near White Birch Lane Northeast.
The driver was identified as Charwood. When she opened the door, the deputy reported smelling a strong odor of alcohol. Charwood told the deputy her vehicle had run out of gas and that help was on the way. The deputy noted Charwood’s watery eyes and slurred speech. When asked to complete field sobriety and preliminary breath tests, Charwood refused both.
Charwood was arrested and transported to the Beltrami County Jail. Once there, deputies read her the Minnesota Breath Test Advisory. According to the report, Charwood pretended to sleep but occasionally peeked at the deputy. After several requests to provide a breath sample, she continued to feign sleep and refused to participate. The test was eventually discontinued and classified as a refusal.
Deputies say Charwood later became belligerent with correctional staff after being escorted to a holding cell. Her prior record includes convictions for fleeing a peace officer, giving a false name, neglect of a child, and a third-degree DWI in 2011. Records also show an implied consent license revocation earlier this year following a 2024 incident.
Possible Penalties
Under Minnesota Statute §169A.25, a second-degree DWI is a gross misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $3,000 fine. Aggravating factors include prior DWI convictions and test refusals.
The case remains active in Beltrami County District Court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
