Cass Lake, Cass County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Cass Lake man is charged with two gross misdemeanor DWI counts and one misdemeanor fleeing count, according to a criminal complaint filed in Cass County District Court.
The defendant is River Phoenix Shady, 36, of Cass Lake. Court records list the case in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District. The court file number is 11-CR-26-271.
Charges listed in the complaint
Shady is charged with DWI for having any amount of a Schedule I or II drug in his body. The complaint also alleges a prior DWI conviction within 10 years. That charge cites Minn. Stat. 169A.20 and Minn. Stat. 169A.26.
He is also charged with DWI for being under the influence of a controlled substance. That charge also cites Minn. Stat. 169A.20 and Minn. Stat. 169A.26.
A third count alleges fleeing a peace officer on foot. That count cites Minn. Stat. 609.487.
What investigators say happened
According to the complaint, a Cass County sheriff’s deputy was dispatched on September 5, 2025. The call reported an ineligible person with a firearm. The complaint says Shady left on a motorbike.
The complaint says dispatch advised the deputy that Shady’s license was revoked. The deputy later located the motorbike in Cass Lake. The deputy activated emergency lights for a traffic stop, the complaint says.
The complaint alleges Shady did not stop. It says he pulled into a driveway and ran inside a residence. The deputy caught and detained him, according to the complaint.
During a search, the complaint alleges the deputy found drug-related items. The items listed include a snort tube and hypodermic needles. The complaint says Shady admitted he smoked meth earlier.
Test results and prior conviction
The complaint says field tests showed signs of impairment. A breath test reportedly showed no alcohol. The deputy obtained a warrant for a urine test, the complaint says.
The complaint says the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension tested the sample. The report listed several substances. They included methamphetamine, amphetamine, and fentanyl metabolites. The report also listed cocaine and heroin metabolites, according to the complaint. More information on the agency is available at the Minnesota BCA.
The complaint lists a prior DWI conviction from Beltrami County dated February 28, 2022. It cites file 04-CR-21-2682.
The complaint also notes Shady was in custody on another matter dated February 22, 2026. The DWI case was filed after lab testing was completed, the complaint states.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.