Grand Forks County (trfnews.i234.me) — A routine traffic stop on Interstate 29 turned into a high-stakes explosive incident Wednesday, June 11, leading to the arrest of two Fargo men and a major highway shutdown.
Gabriel Patrick Messmer, 41, and Christopher Ryan Ringsrud-Knowles, 42, were taken into custody after a North Dakota Highway Patrol trooper stopped their 2001 Mercedes-Benz CL2 near Thompson for illegal window tint. A search revealed a suspected explosive device, prompting the closure of I-29 from 10:55 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The Grand Forks Bomb Squad, with assistance from the Sheriff’s Office, Grand Forks PD, and UND PD, detonated the device on site around 12:10 p.m. The vehicle was later cleared using X-ray equipment and other tools.
Both men are being held in the Grand Forks County Correctional Center. As of Wednesday evening, no formal charges had been filed. The investigation remains ongoing.
The Thompson Police Department, Reynolds Fire, and Altru Ambulance also responded.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.