Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — A Warroad man is facing felony charges after a Pennington County traffic stop.
Travis Ray Austad is charged in Pennington County District Court with first-degree driving while impaired.
He is also charged with fifth-degree possession of a controlled substance.
The case is filed in Minnesota’s 9th Judicial District under court file 57-CR-26-258.
Traffic Stop On Atlantic Avenue
According to the complaint, the stop happened April 16, 2026.
Law enforcement was on routine patrol in Pennington County at about 6:25 p.m.
A black pickup allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign.
The stop sign was at 7th Street and Atlantic Avenue.
The complaint also says the pickup failed to signal a turn.
A traffic stop was then conducted.
The driver was identified as Travis Ray Austad.
Travis Ray Austad
Complaint Alleges Signs Of Impairment
Authorities reported that Austad had glossy eyes and constricted pupils.
The complaint says he was clenching and unclenching his jaw.
Authorities also reported that Austad was unable to sit still.
Field sobriety testing was conducted, according to court records.
The complaint says Austad showed signs of impairment during testing.
He was then placed under arrest for suspected DWI.
Suspected Meth Found
During a search, authorities reported finding a glass bubble pipe.
The pipe was allegedly found in Austad’s pocket.
Authorities also reported finding a crystalline substance.
The complaint says the substance field-tested presumptively positive for methamphetamine.
Law enforcement then searched Austad’s pickup.
Additional baggies containing suspected methamphetamine were found, according to court records.
One baggie allegedly weighed 2.08 grams on an uncertified scale.
A second baggie allegedly weighed 1.95 grams.
A third baggie allegedly weighed 0.98 grams.
The suspected methamphetamine will be sent for further testing.
More information about state testing is available from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
Blood Sample Taken
Authorities obtained a search warrant for a blood or urine sample.
Austad provided a blood sample, according to the complaint.
That sample will also be sent to the BCA for analysis.
Austad is charged under Minnesota Statute 169A.24.
The controlled substance charge is listed under Minnesota Statute 152.025.
The first-degree DWI charge carries up to seven years in prison.
It also carries a possible $14,000 fine, or both.
The drug possession charge carries up to five years in prison.
It also carries a possible $10,000 fine, or both.
The complaint lists a prior felony first-degree DWI conviction from 2005.
The charges are only accusations at this stage.
Austad is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
More case information may be available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.