BEMIDJI, MN – (trfnews.i234.me) – A Bemidji woman faces two felony charges after allegedly stealing a company truck and leading law enforcement on a high-speed pursuit.
Karissa Lee King, 27, is charged with motor vehicle theft and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.
The charges stem from an October 2, 2025, incident involving a stolen work truck in Bemidji.
According to a Beltrami County criminal complaint, the pursuit reached speeds of approximately 90 mph before ending near Red Lake.
Work Truck Stolen During Lunch Break
At approximately 12:15 p.m., Bemidji police responded to a reported vehicle theft on Bemidji Avenue North.
The driver told investigators he had taken a white company work truck home during his lunch break.
He parked the truck near his residence, leaving it unlocked with the keys inside.
When he returned approximately 15 minutes later, the truck was missing.
The driver contacted 911 to report the theft.
A company supervisor confirmed the truck belonged to Vestis and that only the employee had permission to operate it.
The supervisor also told investigators the truck was equipped with a tracking device.
Deputy Spots Stolen Truck on Irvine Avenue
Shortly afterward, a Beltrami County sheriff’s deputy spotted the stolen vehicle traveling along Irvine Avenue.
The deputy confirmed the vehicle’s identity using its license plate information.
According to the complaint, the deputy activated emergency lights and a siren to initiate a traffic stop.
Instead of stopping, the truck continued northbound at approximately 70 mph.
The vehicle eventually entered the boundaries of the Red Lake Indian Reservation.
Police Pursuit Reaches 90 MPH
Investigators reported that the fleeing truck reached speeds of approximately 90 mph during the pursuit.
The chase continued until the vehicle eventually stopped.
Authorities identified the driver and only occupant as Karissa Lee King.
Red Lake police took custody of King because part of the pursuit occurred within reservation boundaries.
The complaint does not report any injuries or collisions during the pursuit.
Suspect Claims She Had Permission to Drive
After receiving a Miranda warning, King provided a statement to investigators.
She reportedly claimed she found the truck parked with its engine running and keys in the ignition.
King told investigators she intended to drive the vehicle to her grandmother’s residence on the Red Lake Reservation.
According to the complaint, King also claimed her deceased father had somehow given her permission to drive it.
However, the company supervisor maintained that King had no authorization to use the truck.
Two Felony Charges Filed
Prosecutors charged King with theft of a motor vehicle without the owner’s consent.
That felony carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.
King also faces a felony charge of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.
That offense carries a maximum penalty of three years and one day in prison, a $5,000 fine, or both.
The case was filed in Beltrami County District Court under case number 04-CR-25-2786.
The supplied complaint also references a warrant connected to the case.
Its current warrant status and the outcome of the charges have not been independently confirmed.
Additional information about the charges is available through Minnesota’s theft statute and Minnesota’s fleeing statute.
Public case records can be searched through Minnesota Court Records Online.
King is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.
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