White Earth, Becker County (trfnews.i234.me) — A Minneapolis man has been sentenced for felony fleeing. Court records tie the case to a child custody call.
Levi Roland Hansmeier, 34, of Minneapolis, was sentenced in Becker County District Court. He pleaded guilty to fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.
A gross misdemeanor DWI charge was dropped in a plea agreement. The fleeing charge is a felony under Minnesota Statute 609.487.
What happened
Court records say an officer was sent to a child custody dispute on July 22, 2024. A woman told police her son was in a black Ford Explorer.
She said the child’s biological father drove off with the child. While speaking with her, the officer saw a dark Ford Explorer stopped at gas pumps.
The officer pulled in behind the SUV and activated emergency lights. The SUV then sped away, according to the complaint.
Pursuit across Becker County
Authorities later identified the driver as Hansmeier. Court records say he ran a stop sign and turned east onto Becker County Highway 34.
The pursuit left the White Earth area and headed east. Records say it went through Pine Point and then back toward Detroit Lakes.
The chase lasted nearly 60 miles across Becker County, according to the complaint. A deputy later assisted with the pursuit.
Authorities stopped the SUV north of the Four Corners gas station on County Road 29. Hansmeier was ordered out of the vehicle.
Items found and medical check
A woman passenger was also detained. Officers found two baggies with a crystal-like substance in a nearby ditch.
The baggies did not field test positive for controlled substances, records say. The items were sent to the Minnesota BCA for testing.
After his arrest, officers noted sweating and unusual pupil response, the complaint says. A warrant was obtained for a blood or urine sample.
Records say Hansmeier told officers he was handed drugs and told to swallow them. He was taken to Essentia Health for medical clearance.
Sentence
On Dec. 16, Judge Michelle Lawson sentenced Hansmeier to 22 months in prison. The sentence was ordered to be served at St. Cloud.
He received 293 days of jail credit, court records say. He was also ordered to pay $135 in fines and court fees.
More court information is available through the Becker County District Court page. County office details are listed by the Becker County Court Administrator.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.