Fertile, Minnesota (trfnews.i234.me) — A Fertile man is facing two criminal charges after a traffic stop in Polk County, according to a court complaint.
Charges Filed In Polk County
Donavan Marvin Halstad, 44, has been charged with driving after cancellation and operating an uninsured vehicle.
The first count is a gross misdemeanor. It alleges he drove after his license was canceled as a public safety risk.
The second count is a misdemeanor. It alleges he drove a vehicle without valid insurance coverage.
Under Minnesota Statute 171.24, the gross misdemeanor count can bring up to 364 days in jail.
Under Minnesota Statute 169.797, the insurance count can bring up to 90 days in jail.
What The Complaint Says Happened
The complaint says the stop happened on January 17, 2026, at about 8:40 p.m.
A state patrol officer saw a maroon 1997 Ford F-150 with a 2025 registration sticker in rural Polk County.
After a registration check, the complaint says the registered owner’s license status showed canceled.
The pickup then pulled into the Dollar General parking lot in Fertile.
According to the complaint, the driver was identified as Halstad after the stop.
Authorities say his Minnesota driving status had been canceled on September 5, 2025.
The complaint says that cancellation was tied to an earlier impaired driving-related incident from July 9, 2025.
Insurance And Prior Record
The complaint also says Halstad told authorities he did not have valid insurance on the truck.
Court records listed in the complaint also note a fourth-degree DWI conviction on December 31, 2025.
That earlier case is listed under court file 60-CR-25-1096.
Case Status
The charges are now filed in Polk County District Court under file number 60-CR-26-134.
A criminal complaint contains allegations. Those allegations must still be proven in court.
Halstad had not been convicted of these new charges at the time of filing.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.