Polk County Man Faces Felony Test Refusal Charge
Polk County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Grand Forks man is facing a felony charge in Polk County District Court after a traffic stop on May 30, 2026.
Michael Armin Johnson, 40, of Grand Forks, North Dakota, is charged with first-degree refusal to submit to testing.
The charge is listed as a felony under Minnesota law. Court records show the maximum sentence is seven years in prison. The charge also carries a possible $14,000 fine.
Traffic Stop Reported Near Highway 75
According to the criminal complaint, a Minnesota State Patrol trooper stopped a white 1997 Ford F-250 pickup in rural Polk County.
The complaint says the pickup was traveling slowly and had hazard lights flashing. It also allegedly crossed the center line near the Highway 75 bypass.
The stop happened south of County Road 61.
Authorities identified the driver as Johnson. The complaint says Johnson had red, glossy eyes. It also says he had trouble staying focused during the stop.
The trooper then asked Johnson to step out of the pickup. Field sobriety tests were requested.
Search Warrant Sought For Testing
The complaint says Johnson was unable to perform field sobriety tests in a satisfactory way.
Based on the stop and test results, Johnson was arrested on suspicion of DWI.
A search warrant was then requested and approved for a blood or urine sample.
Johnson was shown the warrant, according to the complaint. He was also told that refusing the test was a crime.
The complaint alleges Johnson refused to provide a blood or urine sample after several requests.
Prior Convictions Listed In Complaint
Court records say the first-degree refusal charge is tied to prior impaired driving convictions.
The complaint cites prior felony DUI convictions from North Dakota. Those convictions were listed in 2019 and 2021.
Minnesota law covers the refusal to submit to chemical testing in certain DWI cases. More information is available through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes.
Additional court information can be found through Minnesota Court Records Online.
A criminal complaint is only an allegation. Johnson is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.