Roseau County: DWI, Rifle Charge After Ditch Crash

Roseau County (trfnews.i234.me) A 21-year-old Roseau man faces DWI charges after deputies found his pickup in a ditch.

What happened

Charging papers say the call came in just before 1 a.m. on February 21, 2026.

A deputy found two vehicles on County Road 13 in rural Roseau County.

One vehicle was towing a truck that had been in the south ditch.

Deputies identified the driver as Jeran Earl Johnson, 21, of Roseau.

The complaint says the truck had front-end damage and a front tire off the bead.

While speaking with Johnson, the deputy saw a rifle on the driver’s seat, the complaint says.

The rifle was not in a case, according to the report.

Johnson told deputies he drank alcohol about an hour earlier, the complaint says.

The deputy reported watery eyes and the smell of alcohol.

Johnson took field sobriety tests and failed them, according to the complaint.

A preliminary breath test showed 0.179, prosecutors allege.

Johnson was arrested and taken to the Roseau County Jail, the complaint says.

A breath test at the jail later showed 0.17, prosecutors allege.

Deputies checked the rifle and listed it as a Tikka T3 .223.

The complaint says the magazine was loaded with ammunition.

Johnson is charged with two gross misdemeanor counts of third-degree DWI.

He also faces one misdemeanor count for illegal transportation of a firearm.

Third-degree DWI is defined in Minnesota Statute 169A.26.

Vehicle transport rules for long guns are listed in Minnesota Statute 97B.045.

State DWI basics are explained by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

Public contact details are posted by the Roseau County Sheriff’s Office.

Charges are allegations, and Johnson is presumed innocent in court.

I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.

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