Otter Tail County (trfnews.i234.me) – A dramatic manhunt unfolded Monday in Frazee, Otter Tail County, after police say a suspect fled into the Otter Tail River and tried to vanish by burying himself in mud and camouflaging with cattails.
The situation began when Frazee Police were alerted to a possibly impaired driver within city limits. An officer quickly located the vehicle and conducted field sobriety tests, calling for backup. Once it was confirmed the driver was impaired, the man took off running.
Despite a taser being deployed, the suspect managed to escape on foot and jumped into the Otter Tail River near River Drive South.
Law enforcement from Detroit Lakes Police, Becker County Sheriff’s Office, and the Minnesota State Patrol responded, along with Frazee Rescue, Essentia EMS, and later the Detroit Lakes Fire Department with an airboat. Even with drones and rescue units deployed, attempts to remove the man from the river were unsuccessful.
In a bizarre twist, the suspect—identified as 28-year-old Cole Edward Franzen of Detroit Lakes—hid in the thick reeds and mud, using cattails to camouflage himself from searchers. After hours in hiding, he emerged briefly, only to dive back into the water when approached.
Eventually, around 8:55 p.m., deputies aboard an airboat made contact with Franzen, but he continued resisting arrest. A second airboat from White Earth Police was dispatched, and Franzen was finally taken into custody at 9:55 p.m.
He now faces multiple charges, including:
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Driving While Impaired
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Fleeing on Foot
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Obstruction of Justice
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Felony Court Order Violation
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.