Edmund Louis Williams Jr., 22, is charged in Cass County District Court. The charges include gross misdemeanor driving while impaired.<\/p>\n
He also faces misdemeanor counts of careless driving, obstructing the legal process, and fleeing an officer on foot.<\/p>\n
The charges are allegations. Williams is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.<\/p>\n
Crash Reported Near Cass Lake<\/h2>\n
According to the complaint, a Dodge Grand Caravan approached Highway 2 from 65th Avenue Northwest.<\/p>\n
The vehicle allegedly rolled through a stop sign and struck a westbound Nissan Sentra.<\/p>\n
Both vehicles were disabled, and debris covered part of the highway. Emergency medical workers responded to the scene.<\/p>\n
Williams allegedly told authorities that his head hurt after the crash.<\/p>\n
The complaint says he showed several possible signs of alcohol use. Those signs included watery eyes, poor balance, and slurred speech.<\/p>\n
Authorities also reported finding two empty 24-ounce beer bottles inside the Dodge.<\/p>\n
Hospital Departure Alleged<\/h2>\n
Williams was taken by ambulance to Sanford Hospital in Bemidji, according to the complaint.<\/p>\n
He allegedly failed to provide a complete preliminary breath sample at the crash scene.<\/p>\n
The complaint says he again declined testing at the hospital.<\/p>\n
Authorities then told Williams that they planned to seek a search warrant. The warrant would request a blood or urine sample.<\/p>\n
When authorities returned to his hospital room, Williams was no longer there.<\/p>\n
A hospital employee reportedly said Williams had left with family members.<\/p>\n
The complaint alleges that he left to avoid detention or further investigation.<\/p>\n
Four Criminal Charges Filed<\/h2>\n
The DWI count carries a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail. It also carries a possible $3,000 fine.<\/p>\n
The complaint cites a 2023 DWI test-refusal case as an aggravating factor.<\/p>\n
Each misdemeanor count carries up to 90 days in jail. Each may also carry a fine of up to $1,000.<\/p>\n
The complaint lists May 21, 2026, as the offense date. However, its probable-cause section describes the crash as occurring May 16.<\/p>\n
Readers can review Minnesota DWI laws through the Minnesota Revisor of Statutes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Public court information is available through the Minnesota Judicial Branch<\/a>.<\/p>\n
![\"Cass](\"https:\/\/trfnews.i234.me\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Cass-Lake-Man-Charged-After-Highway-2-Crash-300x200.png\")