DASSEL, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) — A Lindstrom man is facing DWI charges. The stop followed a reported road rage incident.
By Chris Harper
Traffic stop on Highway 12
Deputies were called at about 2:50 pm on Feb 5, 2026. A caller reported two vehicles driving aggressively. The vehicles were a white Chevrolet pickup and a gray sedan.
A deputy located both vehicles near Dassel. The deputy saw speeding and unsafe passing. East of Dassel, the deputy clocked the sedan at 104 mph. The speed limit was 60 mph.
The deputy stopped both vehicles near the Meeker and Wright county line. The sedan driver said the two vehicles started near Litchfield. The complaint lists that driver as a witness.
Alcohol evidence and test results
Deputies then spoke with the pickup driver. He was identified as Joseph William Schneider, 34, of Lindstrom. The complaint says the deputy smelled alcohol on him.
The complaint also says Schneider had watery eyes. Schneider denied drinking that day, the complaint says. He told deputies he had smoked marijuana.
Deputies searched the pickup, according to the filing. They found a 1-liter bottle of Tito’s vodka. The seal was broken. The bottle was behind the passenger seat.
Schneider agreed to field sobriety tests, the complaint says. Deputies said he failed the tests. A preliminary breath test showed 0.145, records say.
Schneider was arrested and taken to the Meeker County Jail. A breath sample was taken at about 4:25 pm. The result was 0.17, according to the complaint.
Charges and court status
Prosecutors charged Schneider with two counts of second-degree DWI. Second-degree DWI is a gross misdemeanor in Minnesota. The complaint lists two aggravating factors.
One factor was a test result of 0.16 or higher. The other factor was a prior impaired driving conviction. Records list a fourth-degree DWI conviction from August 2021. That case was in Chisago County.
Second-degree DWI is described in Minnesota Statute 169A.25. The base DWI offense is in Minnesota Statute 169A.20.
A gross misdemeanor can bring up to 364 days in jail. It can also bring up to a $3,000 fine. See Minnesota Statute 609.0342.
Schneider remained jailed under an order of detention, records say. The order was signed by Judge Allison Troyer Whalen. A bail hearing was pending at last report.
Case details
- Alleged offense date: Feb 5, 2026
- Date filed in court: Feb 6, 2026
More local case information is posted by the Minnesota Judicial Branch. Agency information is listed by the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.