Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — A Warroad man is facing felony charges after a traffic stop in Thief River Falls.
Travis Ray Austad, 49, has been charged with felony first-degree DWI. He also faces felony fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance.
The charges followed a stop on April 16 at about 6:25 p.m.
According to the complaint, police saw a vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign. The stop happened near Seventh Street and Atlantic Avenue.
Police also alleged the driver failed to signal a turn.
Traffic Stop Leads To Arrest
After the vehicle was stopped, police identified the driver as Austad.
The complaint states police saw signs of possible impairment during the contact.
Austad later showed signs of impairment during field sobriety testing, according to the complaint.
He was arrested after the roadside investigation.
Meth Allegedly Found During Search
Police searched Austad before the arrest, according to the complaint.
During that search, police allegedly found a baggie with a crystalline substance.
The substance had a presumptive positive test result for methamphetamine.
Police also allegedly found a glass pipe.
Austad’s vehicle was later searched. Police allegedly found more baggies of meth inside the vehicle.
The complaint states three baggies were seized during the searches.
The baggies weighed a total of 5.01 grams on an uncertified scale.
A search warrant was also approved for a blood sample from Austad.
The blood sample and seized baggies will be sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for testing.
Prior Driving Offenses Listed
The complaint also lists prior driving-related convictions for Austad.
Those include driving after cancellation as inimical to public safety in May 2019.
A second conviction for that offense was listed in December 2019.
The complaint also lists a first-degree DWI conviction in December 2005.
It also lists a gross misdemeanor DWI conviction in June 2001.
First-degree DWI is listed under Minnesota Statute 169A.24.
Fifth-degree controlled substance crimes are listed under Minnesota Statute 152.025.
Austad is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.