Mahnomen: Man Faces Meth, Gun and SUV Charges

MAHNOMEN COUNTY (trfnews.i234.me) — An Onamia man faces five charges after officers found a reported stolen SUV.

Darius Oshai Barnes, 28, is charged with four felonies and one misdemeanor. The case was filed in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District.

The charges include third-degree drug possession and illegal firearm possession. Barnes also faces receiving stolen property and possessing a firearm with an altered serial number.

He is also charged with fleeing an officer on foot.

The allegations come from a criminal complaint. They have not been proven in court.

Stolen SUV Found Near Highway 200

According to the complaint, officers found a gray 2017 Dodge Durango on June 8, 2026. The SUV was parked at a rural property in Mahnomen County.

The vehicle had been reported stolen four days earlier. Court records list its estimated value at $12,000.

Officers saw Barnes near the driver’s side of the Durango, the complaint states. Alejandro Torres Sanchez was also near the vehicle.

Barnes allegedly walked away after officers gave commands. He then ran through the yard, according to the complaint.

An officer stopped Barnes after a short foot chase. Police later found the Durango key fob during a search.

Darius Oshai Barnes

Meth, Rifle, and Cash Reported

Investigators retraced the chase route and searched nearby bushes. They found a white container holding a bag of suspected methamphetamine.

The substance weighed 11.7 grams, according to the complaint. A field test returned a presumptive positive result for methamphetamine.

Police also reported finding $4,177 in cash on Barnes.

A rifle was visible inside the Durango, the complaint states. It was positioned between the driver’s seat and the center console.

A later vehicle search found a loaded rifle and several magazines. Officers also found ammunition, digital scales, small bags, phones, and suspected drugs.

The rifle’s serial number appeared removed or altered, according to investigators.

Prior Convictions Cited

The complaint says Barnes has prior felony drug convictions. Those convictions prohibit him from possessing firearms under Minnesota law.

Third-degree drug possession carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. The firearm possession charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years.

Receiving stolen property carries a possible 10-year sentence. The altered serial number charge carries a possible five-year sentence.

The fleeing charge is a misdemeanor. It carries a maximum sentence of 90 days.

Readers can review the cited laws through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.

Other sections cover firearm restrictions, stolen property, and altered serial numbers.

Barnes remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Case information may appear through Minnesota Court Records Online.

I’m Chris Harper, reporting for TRF News.