DETROIT LAKE

— Darren Robert Halvorson, 43, of Detroit Lakes, was charged in Becker County District Court with felony first-degree DWI.

According to court records, just before 1:30 a.m. on Oct. 5, a Detroit Lakes police officer saw a vehicle traveling eastbound on Willow Street in Detroit Lakes. He drove the license plate and the registered owner, Halvorson, had a revoked driver’s license status as inimical to public safety.

The vehicle had turned into a driveway, and as the officer turned on his lights and parked behind it, the driver exited the vehicle and began walking behind the house.

The driver, Halvorson, then ran behind the house and the officer ran after him and arrested him. He smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot and watery eyes and slurred speech. He said he would not perform field sobriety tests and refused to take them at the jail.

On October 8, Halverson posted a $30,000 bond and was released without conditions. His initial appearance was set for Nov. 4 before District Court Judge Michelle W. Lawson.

Daniel James Steward, 20, of Detroit Lakes, was convicted in Becker County District Court of third-degree felony burglary.

Charges of first-degree and second-degree felony burglary were dropped in a plea agreement.

According to court records, on Aug. 8, 2022, a Detroit Lakes woman reported her home was broken into and her purse was taken, containing cash and about 10 hydrocodone pills due to recent surgery.

The purse was sitting near a kitchen window that would have been accessible from the outside. The window screen was knocked to the ground. The reporting party stated that her son was sleeping in the basement at the time the purse was allegedly taken.

The screen was taken for fingerprint analysis and sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. On June 7, 2023, the BCA reported that the fingerprints matched Steward.

Officers checked where Steward lived at the time of the burglary and it was Detroit Lakes. An officer pursued Steward, who said he had been drinking the night of the burglary and that others had challenged him to do it.

On October 7, District Judge Michael D. Fritz issued a stay of imposition. Successful completion of probation will result in a misdemeanor conviction.

Steward was ordered to serve 14 days in jail, with credit for 14 days served, and was fined $400 plus $150 in court fees.

He was ordered to complete a comprehensive evaluation and follow recommendations, including aftercare. He was ordered not to drink or use illegal drugs and to take medication at the prescribed dosage and frequency.

He was ordered to obtain cognitive skills training and to comply with cognitive-behavioral interventions and programming, per probation instructions. He was ordered to obtain individual therapy and attend adult mental health rehabilitation services/community support programming. He must undergo a psychological evaluation and treatment and follow the recommendations.

Andrew James Klemetsrud, 22, of Audubon, was convicted in Becker County District Court of felony DWI.

A misdemeanor charge of fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle and a misdemeanor charge of driving with a suspended license were dropped in a plea agreement.

According to court records, at 3:23 a.m. on July 27, the Becker County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a stolen vehicle from the Morningside Motel on County Road 10 in Frazee.

A woman there said Klemetsrud was intoxicated and had taken her silver 2002 Buick LeSabre without permission about 25 minutes earlier.

The officer saw the car pull off County Road 10 near the motel and attempted to pull it over. But Klemetsrud didn’t stop and instead accelerated to 80 mph in a 55 mph zone. After approximately 1 mile, the vehicle stopped on the side of the road.

The officer spoke to Klemetsrud, the driver, and smelled a very strong odor of alcohol. When asked why he didn’t stop, Klemetsrud said, “I don’t know officer — you got me.”

At 4:14 a.m. at the Becker County Jail, Klemetsrud provided a breath sample, which showed a blood alcohol concentration of .20, more than twice the legal limit.

A background check on Klemetsrud returned a suspension.

On Oct. 7, District Judge Gretchen Thilmony sentenced him to 180 days in jail, with 152 days served over four years and credit for 28 days served.

He was fined $750 plus $440 in court fees.

He was ordered not to drink or use illegal drugs and to attend a MADD impact panel within four months of sentencing. They must also conduct a comprehensive assessment and follow the recommendations. He was placed on unsupervised supervision for four years.