Thief River Falls, MN (trfnews.i234.me)—A local man has been arrested and charged with second-degree DWI after refusing a chemical test during a traffic stop early on January 25.
Incident Details:
- Date & Time: January 25 at 1:30 a.m.
- Location: Highway 59 frontage road, Thief River Falls
- Suspect: Joshua Moe Polanco, 38
- Charges:
- Second-degree DWI – Refusal to submit to a chemical test
- Third-degree DWI – One aggravating factor
According to the criminal complaint:
- Officers stopped Polanco’s vehicle and observed signs of impairment.
- He failed field sobriety tests and displayed slurred speech and impaired balance.
- A preliminary breath test (PBT) showed a 0.19 BAC—more than twice the legal limit.
- An open container of beer was found on the passenger side of the vehicle.
- At the Law Enforcement Center, Polanco invoked his Fifth Amendment right and refused to take a chemical test after being given multiple opportunities.
- Records indicate Polanco had a prior DWI conviction in another state in 2018.
Legal Consequences:
- Second-degree DWI is a gross misdemeanor in Minnesota, carrying severe penalties, including possible jail time, fines, and license suspension.
- Polanco was arrested and taken into custody following his refusal to comply with testing.
Stay Updated:
This is a developing case. Polanco’s next court appearance has yet to be scheduled.
For more updates on this and other breaking news, visit TRF News.
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for TRF News