Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bemidji man is facing a felony drunk driving charge tied to drugs after a traffic stop in Beltrami County, according to a criminal complaint filed in Minnesota District Court.
Court records say Darren John Brown, 37, was charged with first-degree DWI and driving after cancellation that was tied to public safety. The case was filed in Minnesota District Court, Ninth Judicial District, under court file 04-CR-26-658.
Traffic Stop In Bemidji
According to the complaint, the stop happened at about 8:48 p.m. on March 17, 2026, on the north side of 11th Street NW in Bemidji.
A Bemidji police officer saw a vehicle trying to make a three-point turn while parking. The officer then checked the vehicle registration. Court records say the registered owner was Brown and that his driving status was cancelled as inimical to public safety.
The complaint says the officer confirmed Brown was driving and then stopped the vehicle.
Investigators reported Brown had glassy eyes, dilated pupils, and rapid speech. The complaint also says Brown first denied recent hard drug use, but later admitted he had recently used methamphetamine.
Field Tests And Arrest
According to the complaint, Brown had trouble following directions during field sobriety tests. He also used his arms for balance. The complaint says he estimated 30 seconds in 48 seconds.
Brown was then arrested and taken to the emergency room. Court records say police got a search warrant for a blood or urine sample. Brown chose to give a blood sample. The complaint says the sample was to be sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for testing.
Prior Convictions Listed
The complaint also lists several past convictions for Brown. Those include first-, second-, third-, and fourth-degree DWI convictions dating from 2015 through 2024. The filing also lists controlled substance convictions.
Because of that record, prosecutors charged Brown with first-degree DWI. Under Minnesota law, that charge is a felony. The complaint lists a maximum penalty of seven years in prison, a $14,000 fine, or both.
The second charge, driving after cancellation, is a gross misdemeanor under Minnesota law. That count carries a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both, according to the complaint.
All charges are allegations. Brown is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
