Mahnomen: Man Charged After DWI Test Refusal

Mahnomen County (trfnews.i234.me) A Mahnomen man faces two new traffic charges.

Thomas Gene Warren Jr., 43, of Mahnomen, was charged on January 21, 2026.

Prosecutors allege he refused a court-ordered chemical test.

They also allege he drove while his license was revoked.

Charges Filed

Warren is charged with one gross misdemeanor count of DWI test refusal.

The charge is listed under Minnesota Statute 169A.20.

He is also charged with driving after revocation.

That count is listed under Minnesota Statute 171.24.

Traffic Stop Details

According to the complaint, a deputy stopped Warren on January 20, 2026.

The stop happened around 8:58 p.m.

It happened near Workforce Center Road and County Road 4.

The deputy reported an obstructed rear license plate.

The deputy also reported plate lights did not work.

The complaint says Warren told the deputy he had no valid license.

Records checked during the stop showed a revoked status.

The deputy reported slurred speech.

The deputy also noted facial tremors.

The deputy reported pupils who did not react to light.

Field Tests and Warrant

Investigators gave Warren field sobriety tests, the complaint says.

The complaint says he failed the eye test.

The complaint also says he failed the one-leg stand test.

Warren was arrested and taken to the sheriff’s office.

Investigators then sought a search warrant for blood or urine.

The complaint says a judge signed the warrant.

The complaint says Warren refused to provide a sample.

Refusal can be charged as a crime in Minnesota.

State law also covers chemical testing rules under Minnesota Statute 169A.51.

Prior Convictions Listed

Court records listed in the complaint show three prior DWI convictions for Warren.

The complaint lists one conviction from 2005.

It also lists two more convictions in 2025.

Those are dated March 2025 and October 2025.

Court and Bail

Bail was set at $1,200 with conditions, according to the court order.

An option without conditions was set at $12,000.

Release terms include following the law.

They also include appearing for future court dates.

How to Follow the Case

Public case entries may be available on Minnesota Court Records Online (MCRO).

The arrest was handled by the Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Office.

This is a criminal case.

The allegations have not been proven in court.

I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.