Grand Forks County (trfnews.i234.me) – A traffic stop on I-29 has exploded into a felony case, but one of the suspects says it’s all a giant misunderstanding.
During his first court appearance on Friday, June 13, Christopher Ryan Ringsrud-Knowels, 42, of Arvilla, told a Grand Forks judge that what police called a “homemade explosive” was just a smoke bomb used to kill gophers. Arrested with him was Gabriel Patrick Messmer, 41, of Fargo.
The two face Class C felony possession of explosives—a charge that carries up to five years in prison. Their vehicle was stopped for window tint violations, and a K-9 alerted officers, prompting a search. Authorities say they found a taped cylinder with a fuse, which bomb squad experts later detonated.
Ringsrud-Knowels, who has pending methamphetamine charges, had his bond set at $50,000. Messmer, who has a traumatic brain injury, was granted a $10,000 bond.
Both men are scheduled to return to court on July 21 at 9 a.m.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.