Roseau County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Red Lake man is facing multiple charges after police say he drove under the influence of marijuana, resisted arrest, and gave a false name during a traffic stop in Warroad.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Roseau County District Court, 41-year-old Edward Joseph Haines has been charged with:
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Second-degree DWI — controlled substance (gross misdemeanor)
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Driving after cancellation — inimical to public safety (gross misdemeanor)
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Giving a false name to a peace officer (gross misdemeanor)
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Obstructing legal process (misdemeanor)
The incident occurred on May 2, 2024, when Warroad Police and Red Lake Police responded to a report of a vehicle that had driven into a ditch near the casino entrance road.
Officers located a brown Kia and made contact with the driver, who initially identified himself as William Haines. Police noted a strong odor of marijuana, bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, and slowed speech.
Court records say Haines admitted he had smoked three bowls of marijuana about 20 minutes earlier and stated he had become “too high” to drive. He also admitted his car became stuck in the ditch after he attempted to drive through standing water.
Field sobriety tests were conducted, but Haines reportedly struggled with balance and failed portions of the exam. He was placed under arrest, but resisted officers and had to be taken to the ground before being handcuffed.
A search of his vehicle revealed a marijuana pipe and a dispensary container. At the jail, officers obtained a warrant for a blood draw. Haines provided a sample, which was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) for testing.
During booking, fingerprints revealed his true identity as Edward Joseph Haines, not “William Haines” as he had claimed. Records also showed his driver’s license had been canceled as inimical to public safety (IPS) and that he had two prior DWI convictions within the last 10 years, which elevated the current charge.
Haines also had outstanding warrants in multiple counties.
If convicted, Haines faces up to 364 days in jail and a $3,000 fine on the gross misdemeanor charges.
The case remains under review in Roseau County District Court.
For more information on Minnesota impaired driving laws, visit the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
