TRF woman faces charges after leading investigators on a chase

TRF woman faces charges after leading investigators on a chase
TRF woman faces charges after leading investigators on a chase

A Thief River Falls woman has been charged after she struck a law enforcement investigator with a sports utility vehicle and then led law enforcement on a chase Friday afternoon in downtown Thief River Falls. Her kids, ages 6 and 3, were in the vehicle at the time.

Meranda Kae Lindgren, 33, has been charged with felony first-degree assault of a peace officer, felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, gross misde­meanor child endanger­ment and gross misde­meanor criminal vehicular operation – bodily harm. She was arrested.

It was unclear whether the Pine to Prairie Drug Task Force investigator sought medical attention after being struck by the vehicle.

She is out of jail on conditions of release for a felony first-degree arson case in which she is accused of starting her apartment on fire. Two investigators – the PTPDTF investigator and the Thief River Falls Police Department investigator – located Lindgren in the parking lot of the Thief River Falls Public Library. Lindgren was behind the wheel of the idling vehicle, which is owned by Clow’s mother. Lindgren children were passengers in the vehicle.

The charges stemmed from an incident that began at about 2:09 p.m. Friday, according to the complaint. Lindgren’s boyfriend, Ryon John Clow, had allegedly gone to the probation office with a bottle of Lindgren’s urine in order to cheat a urinalysis test. Probation located the bottle and ordered him to take a urine test with his own urine. He tested positive for metham­phetamine. Clow is now in custody at the Pennington County Jail on an apprehend and detain order. Clow said Lindgren, a known meth user, had driven him to the probation
office.

After learning that she would need to submit to a urinalysis, Lindgren attempted to use her kids as leverage to avoid the testing. They informed her that she would be under arrest for refusing. Lindgren told them that they could meet her at her sister’s home. She then rolled up her window and started backing out of her parking spot.

After finding that the driver’s door was locked, the PTPDTF inves­tigator stood in front of the vehicle, reminding Lindgren that she was unable to leave. However, Lindgren drove forward, striking and pushing him with the vehicle. He placed his hands on the front of the hood to catch himself, but Lindgren continued accelerating and caused the investigator to fall down. Both investigators then began pursuing Lindgren in downtown Thief River Falls.

Lindgren failed to stop at a red stoplight at the intersection of First Street and bound lane toward oncom­ ing traffic. Due to traffic, pedestrians, and Lindgren’s children, the police investi­gator thought about discontinuing the pursuit. However, he was able to cut her off at the intersection of Second Street and LaBree Avenue. As he and the other investigator approached, the police investigator drew his pistol. Lindgren rolled her window down slightly, and the PTPDTF investigator was able to break the window out of the vehicle and gain access to her.

The children were removed from the vehicle and taken to a safe location. After being booked into jail, Lindgren allegedly continued to refuse to take a urine test. She said she would test positive for meth. However, Lindgren soon stated she would try to provide a urine sample. She was given a cup of water, but she said she was unable to provide a urine sample. A search warrant was later executed for a blood sample.

The sample was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for analysis.

Meranda Kae Lindgren
Meranda Kae Lindgren
Ryon John Clow
Ryon John Clow

 

 

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