East Grand Forks Bus Stop-Arm Case Leads to Charge
Polk County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Grand Forks man faces a gross misdemeanor charge. The case follows an alleged bus stop-arm violation near East Grand Forks.
Cory William Nelson, 34, is charged in Polk County District Court. The charge involves a school bus with children outside on May 12, 2026.
Children Were Boarding the Bus
The complaint says the incident happened around 7:14 a.m. on Minnesota Highway 220. The location was just north of East Grand Forks.
An East Grand Forks Public Schools bus had stopped near a driveway. Its red lights were flashing, and its stop arm was fully extended.
Children and a parent were waiting near the road. The children were boarding the bus when a dark red pickup approached.
The pickup slowed and moved onto the shoulder, the complaint says. However, it continued past the stopped bus.
The bus driver sounded the horn, but the pickup did not stop. Cameras on the school bus reportedly recorded the incident.
Pickup Located Two Days Later
A state trooper later found a pickup matching the reported vehicle description. The traffic stop happened on May 14, according to court records.
Nelson told the trooper that nobody else drove his pickup. He also said he traveled on Highway 220 that morning.
The complaint says Nelson first denied passing a school bus. He later acknowledged passing it after learning about the bus cameras.
Nelson reportedly said he slowed down and moved toward the shoulder. He said he watched for children while passing the bus.
The bus driver told investigators that children were outside at the time. They were also on or near the highway, the complaint says.
Charge Carries Possible Jail Time
Nelson is charged under Minnesota’s school bus safety law. The law requires drivers to stop for flashing red lights and an extended stop arm.
The gross misdemeanor charge carries a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail. It also carries a possible $3,000 fine.
The case was filed in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District. The court file number is 60-CR-26-711.
Readers can search public case information through Minnesota Court Records Online.
A criminal complaint contains allegations. Nelson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
