Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) – A Bemidji woman is facing new DWI charges after authorities say she was found unconscious in a parked car with a blood alcohol concentration of .41 percent.
According to court documents, on July 22, 2025, at about 6:38 p.m., police patrolling the Paul Bunyan Trail Head area in Bemidji discovered a vehicle parked with its driver’s door open. A woman, later identified as 39-year-old Natalie Lynn Ruess, was reportedly lying across the driver’s seat and the center console.
Officers noted the vehicle’s keys were in the ignition and that the woman appeared unconscious and unclothed from the waist down. Upon waking her, police reported a strong odor of alcohol, slow and confused speech, and signs of extreme intoxication.
Field sobriety tests were conducted, which authorities say Ruess failed. A preliminary breath test showed a result of 0.400. After being transported to the law enforcement center and consulting with an attorney, a formal breath test confirmed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.41.
Court records indicate Ruess has prior DWI convictions earlier this year, including one for a .35 BAC in June and another for a .36 BAC in January. The current charge is a gross misdemeanor and carries a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.