Moorhead Man Charged After Mahnomen County Crash

MAHNOMEN COUNTY (trfnews.i234.me) — Charles Ortley faces five charges after a vehicle struck a garage.

Charles Thomas Ortley, 36, of Moorhead, was charged in Mahnomen County District Court.

The case follows a June 27 crash near Bass Lake Road and County Road 4.

The criminal complaint alleges Ortley refused a court-ordered blood or urine test. That charge is a gross misdemeanor.

He also faces four misdemeanor charges. They involve drug possession, an open bottle, property damage reporting, and fleeing on foot.

Vehicle Reportedly Struck Garage

Authorities responded at about 8:21 p.m. after receiving a report of a single-vehicle crash.

The vehicle reportedly struck a building and caused major damage. The complaint says the driver left the scene on foot.

Officers later found Ortley near the lakeshore. According to the complaint, Ortley ran as an officer approached.

He was detained after a short foot chase. Ortley had cuts, scrapes, and a forehead injury, the complaint states.

Ortley told officers that someone had assaulted him. He denied driving the vehicle or running from police.

Charles Thomas Ortley

Investigators found a gray Nissan Rogue resting on its driver’s side.

Part of the vehicle was inside a garage wall. All airbags had deployed.

The vehicle was registered to Ortley, according to the complaint. A key fob found with Ortley activated the vehicle.

Witnesses reported seeing the Nissan travel south at a high speed.

Another vehicle reportedly swerved to avoid a collision. Justin Littlewolf Sr. said he saw the Nissan become airborne.

He told investigators the vehicle landed on the garage roof.

Littlewolf said he helped a man leave the vehicle. The man reportedly left after learning police had been called.

During a vehicle inventory, officers reported finding two pills identified as gabapentin.

They also reported finding two alcohol containers. One was empty, while another contained Hennessy liquor.

Ortley received treatment at Mahnomen Health Center. Investigators later obtained a warrant for blood or urine samples.

The complaint alleges Ortley refused several requests to provide a sample.

Ortley also has a separate pending DWI case involving a June 20 incident.

Charges are allegations. Ortley is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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

Public court information is available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.

I’m Chris Harper, reporting for TRF News.