Warroad Man Charged After .15 DWI Stop

Roseau County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Warroad man is facing two DWI charges. Court records name him as Aaron Laverne Knutson, 36.

Traffic Stop in Extreme Cold

A criminal complaint says a trooper stopped Knutson’s Chevrolet Silverado on January 25, 2026. The stop happened at about 1:04 a.m.

The complaint says the stop was on Minnesota Highway 313. The truck was turning toward Lakeview Drive.

The trooper said the third brake light did not work. The trooper also reported smelling alcohol.

Knutson told the trooper he was the driver. He said the passenger owned the truck. He said the passenger was too intoxicated to drive.

The complaint noted extreme cold. It was about -28 degrees Fahrenheit.

The trooper ran field sobriety tests anyway. The trooper reported several signs of impairment.

Knutson took a preliminary breath test, the complaint says. The result was 0.153.

He was arrested and taken to the Roseau County Detention Center. A DataMaster test later showed 0.15, records allege.

Charges and Court Conditions

Prosecutors filed two gross misdemeanor counts, records show. Both counts allege third-degree driving while impaired.

One count focuses on impairment, records say. The other focuses on alcohol concentration, records say.

The counts cite Minnesota Statute 169A.20. They also reference Minnesota Statute 169A.26.

Court records also list a 2018 license revocation tied to impaired driving. That history can raise the charge level under state law.

Court records show the case was filed on January 26, 2026. The alleged offense date is January 25, 2026.

Judge Tamara Yon set bail at $0 with conditions, records show. The court also set an option of $12,000 cash or bond.

That option was without conditions.

More Information

In Minnesota, the legal alcohol limit for most drivers is 0.08. Police can still arrest at lower levels.

Officers also weigh driving, tests, and statements.

You can read the law at the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes website.

You can also find impaired driving resources through the Minnesota State Patrol.

Knutson is presumed innocent in court. The charges are allegations.

I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.