Bemidji Woman Accused of Stealing Van, Crashing Into Trees

BEMIDJI, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – A 24-year-old Bemidji woman faces three criminal charges following a crash involving an allegedly stolen van.

Shawna Lynn Jones Wenell is accused of taking a Dodge Caravan without permission and crashing along Birchmont Drive Northeast.

According to a Beltrami County criminal complaint, the crash damaged trees, a mailbox, and a telephone utility box.

Witnesses also reported that the driver fled into nearby woods after the collision.

The incident occurred on September 6, 2026.

Van Crashes Into Trees Along Birchmont Drive

Bemidji police responded to the 5900 block of Birchmont Drive Northeast around 5:48 p.m.

Dispatch reported that a vehicle had struck a tree and that the driver fled on foot.

Witnesses described the driver as a woman wearing a KISS T-shirt with a bleeding head injury.

They also reported finding alcohol inside the vehicle.

Officers searched the nearby wooded area after hearing movement among the trees.

Police eventually located Jones Wenell and identified her as the driver.

According to the complaint, she admitted being the only occupant of the van.

Officers Discover Injuries and Vodka Bottle

During the investigation, police noticed an odor of alcohol coming from Jones Wenell.

Officers also observed several cuts and scrapes on her body.

An ambulance was requested to evaluate her injuries.

Meanwhile, investigators examined the damaged Dodge Caravan.

Police reported finding Jones Wenell’s driver’s license inside the front passenger area.

An open bottle of vodka was also discovered on the front passenger floor.

A firefighter told police the van was still in drive when emergency crews arrived.

The firefighter reportedly shifted the vehicle into neutral and turned off its engine.

Mailbox, Trees, and Utility Box Damaged

Investigators documented damage along the vehicle’s path after it left the roadway.

According to court documents, the van struck a mailbox before colliding with several Norway pine trees.

The collision also damaged a telephone utility box.

Police reported that the van sustained extensive damage.

Authorities later informed the person using the vehicle that it had been totaled.

Driver Taken to Hospital for Evaluation

While awaiting medical assistance, Jones Wenell reportedly shifted between cooperative and confrontational behavior.

Because of her injuries, officers did not administer roadside field sobriety tests.

She was transported to Sanford’s emergency department for further evaluation.

According to the complaint, Jones Wenell refused a preliminary breath test at the hospital.

Police obtained a search warrant authorizing a blood or urine sample.

The warrant was approved at approximately 7:15 p.m.

A blood sample was collected around 7:19 p.m.

The supplied criminal complaint does not include the blood test results.

Van Reported Stolen Hours After Crash

At approximately 9:48 p.m., deputies responded to a stolen vehicle report on North Plantagenet Road Southwest.

The reporting party, identified as T.D., said his Dodge Caravan was missing.

According to the complaint, T.D. identified Jones Wenell as his former girlfriend.

He told investigators she had been staying at his residence for several days.

T.D. said he left for St. Cloud around 10:30 a.m. that morning.

When he returned around 9:45 p.m., he discovered the van and some alcohol were missing.

Although the vehicle’s keys were inside the residence, T.D. said Jones Wenell had no permission to drive it.

Investigators later confirmed that the vehicle was registered to T.D.’s stepfather, who had given him the van.

Complaint Describes Statements After Crash

While speaking with deputies, T.D. reportedly received a telephone call from Jones Wenell.

According to court documents, she told him she intentionally crashed the vehicle because she wanted to harm herself.

Investigators also documented similar statements Jones Wenell allegedly made during her hospital treatment.

Deputies later went to the hospital to interview and arrest her on suspicion of vehicle theft.

However, Jones Wenell had already been discharged before they arrived.

Officers were unable to locate her during that attempt.

The complaint also alleges she later made a threatening statement toward T.D.

Three Criminal Charges Filed

Prosecutors filed three charges against Jones Wenell in Beltrami County District Court.

Felony motor vehicle theft: Taking or driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent. Maximum penalty: five years in prison or a $10,000 fine, or both.
Gross misdemeanor DWI: Operating a motor vehicle while impaired with an alleged aggravating factor. Maximum penalty: 364 days in jail or a $3,000 fine, or both.
Misdemeanor failure to report property damage: Allegedly failing to provide required notice after damaging roadside property. Maximum penalty: 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine, or both.

These are maximum statutory penalties, not sentences imposed in the case.

Previous Convictions and Probation Cited

The complaint identifies a previous DWI-related conviction from February 17, 2026.

It also lists two misdemeanor domestic assault convictions from January 2026.

Jones Wenell was reportedly serving supervised probation for those offenses.

According to the complaint, her probation conditions prohibited using or possessing alcohol.

Her driver’s license was also listed as revoked.

These details are part of the prosecution’s account and do not establish guilt on the new charges.

Beltrami County Court Proceedings

The case is filed under court file number 04-CR-26-2279 in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District.

The prosecutor’s file number is 0040093482.

The complaint was issued as a summons.

The supplied records do not establish a final court outcome or current custody status.

Readers can review Minnesota’s theft statute and Minnesota’s impaired driving law.

Additional court information is available through Minnesota Court Records Online.

The charges remain allegations. Jones Wenell is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.