Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — A Newfolden man is facing two felony charges after a traffic stop in Thief River Falls, according to a complaint filed in Pennington County District Court.
Torrey Robert Winger, 50, was charged with first-degree driving while impaired and fifth-degree drug possession. The complaint says the case began on March 25, 2026, after police stopped a maroon SUV on Third Street West near Arnold Avenue.
What the Complaint Says
According to the complaint, officers stopped the vehicle after seeing an object hanging from the rearview mirror. Court records say Winger showed signs of possible impairment during the stop.
The complaint says he had trouble sitting still and showed other physical signs. He was then asked to perform field sobriety tests. The filing states he showed several signs of impairment during those tests.
Police later searched Winger and the SUV after learning he was on supervised probation for a drug offense, the complaint says. The filing states officers found a torch lighter on him. It also says Winger told them they would find something in the center console.
According to the complaint, officers found a clear package with a white crystal-like substance and a glass pipe in the vehicle. The complaint says both later tested positive for methamphetamine in a field test. The substance weighed about two grams on an uncertified scale.
Testing and Prior Convictions
The court filing says a judge signed a warrant for a blood or urine sample. Judge Michael Grover reviewed that application, according to the complaint. Sanford Ambulance worker Blake Walker tried to collect a blood sample, but the attempt failed. The complaint says Winger then agreed to provide a urine sample.
After he was taken to jail, the complaint says a separate urinalysis showed positive results for MDMA, amphetamines, and methamphetamine. That test was later secured for probation staff, according to the filing.
The complaint also lists earlier convictions. It says Winger was convicted of felony fifth-degree drug possession on June 28, 2023. It also says he was convicted of felony DWI on August 28, 2019.
What Happens Next
A criminal complaint contains allegations. It is not a conviction. Readers can review Minnesota’s first-degree DWI law, the fifth-degree controlled substance law, and public case information through Minnesota Court Records Online.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.