Shawna Lynn Jones Wenell is accused of taking a Dodge Caravan without permission and crashing along Birchmont Drive Northeast.<\/p>\n
According to a Beltrami County criminal complaint, the crash damaged trees, a mailbox, and a telephone utility box.<\/p>\n
Witnesses also reported that the driver fled into nearby woods after the collision.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred on September 6, 2026.<\/p>\n
Van Crashes Into Trees Along Birchmont Drive<\/h2>\n
Bemidji police responded to the 5900 block of Birchmont Drive Northeast around 5:48 p.m.<\/p>\n
Dispatch reported that a vehicle had struck a tree and that the driver fled on foot.<\/p>\n
Witnesses described the driver as a woman wearing a KISS T-shirt with a bleeding head injury.<\/p>\n
They also reported finding alcohol inside the vehicle.<\/p>\n
Officers searched the nearby wooded area after hearing movement among the trees.<\/p>\n
Police eventually located Jones Wenell and identified her as the driver.<\/p>\n
According to the complaint, she admitted being the only occupant of the van.<\/p>\n
Officers Discover Injuries and Vodka Bottle<\/h2>\n
During the investigation, police noticed an odor of alcohol coming from Jones Wenell.<\/p>\n
Officers also observed several cuts and scrapes on her body.<\/p>\n
An ambulance was requested to evaluate her injuries.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, investigators examined the damaged Dodge Caravan.<\/p>\n
Police reported finding Jones Wenell’s driver’s license inside the front passenger area.<\/p>\n
An open bottle of vodka was also discovered on the front passenger floor.<\/p>\n
A firefighter told police the van was still in drive when emergency crews arrived.<\/p>\n
The firefighter reportedly shifted the vehicle into neutral and turned off its engine.<\/p>\n
Mailbox, Trees, and Utility Box Damaged<\/h2>\n
Investigators documented damage along the vehicle’s path after it left the roadway.<\/p>\n
According to court documents, the van struck a mailbox before colliding with several Norway pine trees.<\/p>\n
The collision also damaged a telephone utility box.<\/p>\n
Police reported that the van sustained extensive damage.<\/p>\n
Authorities later informed the person using the vehicle that it had been totaled.<\/p>\n
Driver Taken to Hospital for Evaluation<\/h2>\n
While awaiting medical assistance, Jones Wenell reportedly shifted between cooperative and confrontational behavior.<\/p>\n
Because of her injuries, officers did not administer roadside field sobriety tests.<\/p>\n
She was transported to Sanford’s emergency department for further evaluation.<\/p>\n
According to the complaint, Jones Wenell refused a preliminary breath test at the hospital.<\/p>\n
Police obtained a search warrant authorizing a blood or urine sample.<\/p>\n
The warrant was approved at approximately 7:15 p.m.<\/p>\n
A blood sample was collected around 7:19 p.m.<\/p>\n
The supplied criminal complaint does not include the blood test results.<\/p>\n
Van Reported Stolen Hours After Crash<\/h2>\n
At approximately 9:48 p.m., deputies responded to a stolen vehicle report on North Plantagenet Road Southwest.<\/p>\n
The reporting party, identified as T.D., said his Dodge Caravan was missing.<\/p>\n
According to the complaint, T.D. identified Jones Wenell as his former girlfriend.<\/p>\n
He told investigators she had been staying at his residence for several days.<\/p>\n
T.D. said he left for St. Cloud around 10:30 a.m. that morning.<\/p>\n
When he returned around 9:45 p.m., he discovered the van and some alcohol were missing.<\/p>\n
Although the vehicle’s keys were inside the residence, T.D. said Jones Wenell had no permission to drive it.<\/p>\n
Investigators later confirmed that the vehicle was registered to T.D.’s stepfather, who had given him the van.<\/p>\n
Complaint Describes Statements After Crash<\/h2>\n
While speaking with deputies, T.D. reportedly received a telephone call from Jones Wenell.<\/p>\n
According to court documents, she told him she intentionally crashed the vehicle because she wanted to harm herself.<\/p>\n
Investigators also documented similar statements Jones Wenell allegedly made during her hospital treatment.<\/p>\n
Deputies later went to the hospital to interview and arrest her on suspicion of vehicle theft.<\/p>\n
However, Jones Wenell had already been discharged before they arrived.<\/p>\n
Officers were unable to locate her during that attempt.<\/p>\n
The complaint also alleges she later made a threatening statement toward T.D.<\/p>\n
Three Criminal Charges Filed<\/h2>\n
Prosecutors filed three charges against Jones Wenell in Beltrami County District Court.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Felony motor vehicle theft:<\/strong> Taking or driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent. Maximum penalty: five years in prison or a $10,000 fine, or both.<\/li>\n
- Gross misdemeanor DWI:<\/strong> Operating a motor vehicle while impaired with an alleged aggravating factor. Maximum penalty: 364 days in jail or a $3,000 fine, or both.<\/li>\n
- Misdemeanor failure to report property damage:<\/strong> Allegedly failing to provide required notice after damaging roadside property. Maximum penalty: 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine, or both.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
These are maximum statutory penalties, not sentences imposed in the case.<\/p>\n
Previous Convictions and Probation Cited<\/h2>\n
The complaint identifies a previous DWI-related conviction from February 17, 2026.<\/p>\n
It also lists two misdemeanor domestic assault convictions from January 2026.<\/p>\n
Jones Wenell was reportedly serving supervised probation for those offenses.<\/p>\n
According to the complaint, her probation conditions prohibited using or possessing alcohol.<\/p>\n
Her driver’s license was also listed as revoked.<\/p>\n
These details are part of the prosecution’s account and do not establish guilt on the new charges.<\/p>\n
Beltrami County Court Proceedings<\/h2>\n
The case is filed under court file number 04-CR-26-2279 in Minnesota’s Ninth Judicial District.<\/p>\n
The prosecutor’s file number is 0040093482.<\/p>\n
The complaint was issued as a summons.<\/p>\n
The supplied records do not establish a final court outcome or current custody status.<\/p>\n
Readers can review Minnesota’s theft statute<\/a> and Minnesota’s impaired driving law<\/a>.<\/p>\n
Additional court information is available through Minnesota Court Records Online<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The charges remain allegations. Jones Wenell is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.<\/p>\n
I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n
- Gross misdemeanor DWI:<\/strong> Operating a motor vehicle while impaired with an alleged aggravating factor. Maximum penalty: 364 days in jail or a $3,000 fine, or both.<\/li>\n
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