Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bemidji traffic stop has led to drug and DWI charges against Antonio James Whipps Jr.
A criminal complaint filed in Beltrami County District Court says the case stems from July 14, 2024. The court file is 04-CR-25-1127. Prosecutors charged Whipps with fifth-degree drug possession and driving while impaired. Both charges remain allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What the complaint says
According to the complaint, police first saw a silver sedan at Orton’s Cenex in Bemidji. A woman was first seen in the driver’s seat. A short time later, police reported seeing Whipps driving the same car. The complaint says the car then made quick turns through a neighborhood before stopping in a driveway on 6th Street SE.
Police said three people got out and looked under the hood. The complaint says Whipps and a female passenger then walked away. An officer approached them and noticed signs of possible impairment. The complaint says Whipps had glassy eyes, heavy sweating, and very small pupils.
Whipps told police the vehicle was overheating, according to the complaint. He also said he did not have a valid license. Court records say his license was revoked at the time. Police then gave field sobriety tests. The complaint says officers saw signs of impairment during those tests.
Evidence and lab results
Police searched the vehicle after the arrest, according to the complaint. Investigators reported finding burnt foil in the back seat. They also found a container in the trunk. The complaint says it held foil bindles with a white powder. Whipps later told police the substance was fentanyl, according to the complaint.
The complaint says Whipps agreed to a blood test after a search warrant was signed. The sample was later tested by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The complaint says the blood sample contained methamphetamine, fentanyl, and a fentanyl metabolite. A separate lab report said one bag contained 0.802 grams of fentanyl.
The Minnesota BCA says its drug chemistry unit tests suspected controlled substances. It says its toxicology unit tests biological samples in DWI cases.
Charges and next steps
The drug count cites Minnesota Statute 152.025. The DWI count cites Minnesota Statute 169A.20. The gross misdemeanor drug charge carries up to 364 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both. The misdemeanor DWI charge carries up to 90 days in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both.
The complaint states Whipps has no prior DWI convictions. It also says he has no prior drug convictions. The complaint further says he has no criminal convictions on his Minnesota record. The case will now move through the court process in Bemidji.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
