Bemidji, Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bemidji woman is facing a gross misdemeanor DWI charge after authorities said her blood alcohol level measured .13 within two hours of driving.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Minnesota District Court, Kelly Ann Gunderson, 38, of Mizpah, was charged after an incident on April 9, 2026, in Bemidji.
Complaint Details
The complaint says a report came in at about 11:05 p.m. about a possible drunk driver in a Chevy Equinox near Washington Avenue. The caller also said the woman had crashed into his vehicle earlier that night.
Authorities later found the vehicle in the parking lot of a Dollar General in Bemidji. The complaint says the SUV was running and did not have a rear license plate visible. Gunderson was later found in the vehicle.
Court records say Gunderson first denied being in a crash. She later said the caller had been driving in front of her. The complaint also states she had bloodshot eyes and admitted drinking two beers.
Authorities then asked Gunderson to perform field sobriety tests. According to the complaint, she did not complete those tests successfully. A preliminary breath test later showed an alcohol concentration of .13.
Breath Test and Charge
The complaint says Gunderson was taken to the Beltrami County Jail. There, she agreed to a breath test after the Minnesota breath test advisory was read. That test also showed a result of .13.
She was charged under Minnesota’s DWI law with operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .08 or more within two hours. The complaint lists the charge as a gross misdemeanor.
The maximum penalty listed in the complaint is up to 364 days in jail, a fine of up to $3,000, or both.
Prior Record Listed in Filing
The court filing also lists prior criminal and driving history for Gunderson. Those entries include a past misdemeanor DWI conviction and several other pending or probationary cases.
Those listed cases include assault-related charges, a domestic assault and DWI case, a violation of an order for protection, and interference with a 911 call. Those records appear in the complaint as part of the probable cause statement.
As with all criminal cases, the charge against Gunderson is only an allegation. She is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Readers can find more public information through the Minnesota Court Records system and Beltrami County.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
