Polk County, MN (trfnews.i234.me)—On December 26, 2024, Stephen Wayne Howard Sr., born April 29, 1982, was charged with fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, a felony offense under Minnesota Statute 609.487, subdivision 3.
Howard, a 42-year-old resident of Mahnomen, Minnesota, was previously arrested on December 9, 2024, in Clearwater County on a Wright County warrant for a fifth-degree controlled substance offense.
Under Minnesota law, fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle is a serious offense. The statute defines the act as when an individual, using a motor vehicle, attempts to evade a peace officer performing official duties, with the knowledge that the person is a peace officer. This offense is classified as a felony, punishable by up to three years and one day of imprisonment, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
In addition to potential imprisonment and fines, a conviction for this offense can lead to the revocation of the individual’s driver’s license. The court is required to notify the Commissioner of Public Safety, who will then revoke the driver’s license of the convicted person.
Howard’s recent arrest adds to his legal challenges, following the earlier controlled substance charge. The current charge underscores the legal consequences associated with attempting to evade law enforcement in Minnesota.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me