Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) A Bemidji traffic stop turned into a short chase and arrest on April 1, according to a criminal complaint filed in Beltrami County District Court.
Authorities say Amanda Jean Schulz, 36, now faces three charges. Those charges include DWI test refusal, fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, and obstructing legal process.
What the complaint says
The complaint says an officer saw a black sedan moving at uneven speeds on Anne Street Northwest in Bemidji. The vehicle was also weaving and crossing lane lines.
According to court records, the driver stopped near Bemidji Marine after emergency lights were activated. The complaint says Schulz showed signs of impairment during the stop. Those signs included slurred speech, watery eyes, and confusion.
Investigators said Schulz refused repeated orders to get out of the vehicle for field sobriety testing. The complaint says she stayed inside for about 10 minutes and kept the doors locked.
Short pursuit ended on Anne Street
According to the complaint, Schulz restarted the vehicle after being told she was under arrest. Authorities say she then drove away south on Laurel Drive Northwest.
The pursuit ended on Anne Street Northwest before stop sticks were reached, the complaint says. Officers boxed in the vehicle, broke the front windows, and removed Schulz from the driver’s seat.
After the arrest, authorities said they smelled alcohol on her. She was then taken to the Beltrami County Jail.
Jail booking and test refusal
The complaint says Schulz continued to ignore commands at the jail. Staff needed several minutes to get her out of the squad and moving inside.
Investigators said she was read Minnesota’s breath test advisory. The complaint says she did not answer key questions and made unrelated statements. Her conduct was treated as a refusal.
Prosecutors charged Schulz with a gross misdemeanor DWI refusal count, a felony fleeing count, and a misdemeanor obstruction count. Court records also state prosecutors listed a prior implied consent revocation from 2020 as an aggravating factor.
Case status
The case was filed in the Minnesota District Court, Beltrami County, under court file number 04-CR-26-782. As with all criminal cases, the charges are allegations unless proven in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.