Pennington County ( trfnews.i234.me ) – A Thief River Falls man is facing a gross misdemeanor charge after refusing to take a breath test during a traffic stop, according to court filings.
On August 28, 2025, a Minnesota State Patrol Trooper stopped a white Ford F-450 utility truck on U.S. Highway 59 near 130th Street NE, just south of Thief River Falls. The vehicle had only one working taillight and nearly crossed the center line while traveling northbound. The truck, registered to Peterson Diesel Service LLC, also had expired registration, records state.
The driver, identified as 34-year-old Ethan Paul Peterson, admitted to having consumed “a little bit” of alcohol. Troopers noted slurred speech, slow responses, and a strong odor of alcohol. During field sobriety tests, Peterson showed multiple signs of impairment, including balance issues and a lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes. He refused to complete the walk-and-turn test and also refused a preliminary breath test.
Peterson was arrested at 11:22 p.m. for suspicion of DWI and transported to the Pennington County Jail. During the booking process, Troopers say Peterson again refused to provide a chemical breath test despite being read the Breath Test Advisory. He allegedly declined to give a reason for his refusal.
Court records show Peterson has two prior DWI convictions within the past 10 years, one in North Dakota (2017) and one in Marshall County, Minnesota (2019). Because of those priors, his current charge is enhanced to a gross misdemeanor, carrying a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and a $3,000 fine.
Peterson’s vehicle was towed from the scene, and a search of the truck revealed an unopened Twisted Tea alcoholic beverage. Read Minnesota’s DWI law here.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
