Hines Man Charged With Drug-Related DWI in Beltrami County

Beltrami County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Hines man is facing a gross misdemeanor DWI charge after a June traffic stop in Beltrami County.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Beltrami County District Court, Gary Thomas O’Shea, 43, is accused of operating a vehicle while his body contained a controlled substance.

O’Shea was charged with third-degree DWI involving a Schedule I or II drug or metabolite. The charge is listed as a gross misdemeanor under Minnesota law.

Traffic Stop Begins Investigation

The complaint states the incident happened on June 23, 2026, in Beltrami County.

Authorities said a light-colored Chrysler sedan was observed traveling north on Scenic Highway NE near Bemidji.

The vehicle was reportedly traveling about 69 to 71 mph in a posted 55 mph zone.

The complaint also states the vehicle had expired registration tabs.

A traffic stop was later conducted near Birchmont Beach Road NE and Little Dip Loop Drive NE.

The driver was identified as Gary Thomas O’Shea of Hines.

Officers Report Signs of Possible Impairment

According to court documents, O’Shea was the only person inside the vehicle.

The complaint states he showed several behaviors that investigators believed were signs of possible impairment.

Those behaviors included rapid speech, unusual movements, red and glassy eyes, and difficulty staying still.

The complaint states O’Shea repeatedly moved his hands into his pockets and looked around the area.

During the investigation, authorities said O’Shea agreed to some field sobriety testing.

The complaint states he had difficulty completing portions of the testing.

Authorities said he admitted using marijuana less than two hours before the traffic stop.

Gary Thomas O’Shea booking photo.

Blood Sample Collected

The complaint states a search of the vehicle found marijuana in a location described by O’Shea.

A search warrant was later obtained for a blood or urine sample.

Court documents state O’Shea first agreed to provide urine before requesting a blood test.

A blood sample was collected later that evening.

O’Shea was then transported back to jail without further incident, according to the complaint.

Previous Court Matters Listed

Court records referenced in the complaint show O’Shea previously had a qualified impaired driving revocation related to a 2024 DWI incident.

The complaint also lists other pending criminal cases, including assault-related charges and firearm-related allegations.

The current DWI charge remains a court allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

For more Minnesota court information, visit the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.