Grand Forks County (trfnews.i234.me) – A shocking arrest unfolded near Reynolds on I-29 this past Wednesday as two Fargo men, Gabriel Patrick Messmer and Christopher Ryan Ringsrud-Knowles, were taken into custody following a bomb squad discovery of an explosive device in their vehicle.
According to court documents now filed in Grand Forks District Court, both men face felony possession of explosives, a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
The incident began when their Mercedes was pulled over due to illegally tinted windows. Troopers immediately noticed suspicious behavior—Messmer was jittery and lacked registration, insurance, and even a valid driver’s license. Ringsrud-Knowles appeared nervous and combative.
A K-9 unit conducted a sniff search, which hit positively on the vehicle. A probable cause search revealed a cylindrical device wrapped in electrical tape with a fuse, which Ringsrud-Knowles claimed was a “smoke bomb.” However, bomb squad experts later confirmed it was a homemade explosive, which detonated on the scene during handling.
Despite the explosion, no injuries were reported. Ringsrud-Knowles also reportedly admitted to having marijuana in the vehicle.
Both men are now facing felony charges. Their motivation for possessing the device remains unclear in court records.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News