DETROIT LAKES
— A Twin Valley man faces multiple felony charges in Becker County District Court after he allegedly fought with Detroit Lakes police officers and tried to run one over with his vehicle.
Tristan Michael Stevens, 30, of Twin Valley, has been charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, two counts of fourth-degree assault, first-degree damage to property and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.
According to court records, on May 21, two Detroit Lakes police officers went to the Lodge on the Lake for a call about a disturbance. A man later identified as Stevens was the source of the disturbance, and there had been other disturbances earlier that day involving Stevens.
When the officers arrived at about 5 p.m., Stevens was sitting on the roof of his car in front of the main doors to the Lodge, and appeared to be very agitated. As an officer approached, Stevens yelled “(g)o now before I kill you,” and “I will kill you right now!”
The officer then saw Stevens get up and go into the driver’s seat of the car. The officer ordered him not to, but Stevens went into the car anyway. He eventually drove off and the officer followed him with his lights activated. Stevens then stopped his car and got out, and the officer parked behind him. At this time, an officer with the Becker County Sheriff’s Office had arrived and was parked in front of Stevens.
A second police officer was standing near the driver’s door, when Stevens got back into his car and threw it in reverse and then rammed it into that officer’s squad car.
The sheriff’s officer saw Stevens look at him and then drive the car forward right at the sheriff’s officer, who was standing outside his squad car and had to put his arms down and push off the hood of the car to avoid being run over. When Stevens drove at him, the sheriff’s officer feared for his life, according to court records.
Stevens then fled, the three officers pursued him, and they were eventually able to force him to stop near Casey’s convenience store by ramming into his car.
Stevens got out of his car and started fighting with law enforcement. He was tasered and continued fighting. Stevens bit the sheriff’s officer and one of the police officers, causing demonstrable bodily harm. Eventually another Becker County sheriff’s officer arrived, and Stevens was finally arrested and taken to the hospital.
A warrant was requested “so that Stevens may be taken into custody when the hospital releases him, as the above-stated situation causes the State to have concerns for public safety,” according to the criminal complaint.
An arrest warrant was issued by Becker County District Judge Gretchen D. Thilmony. Stevens has not yet been booked, so a mugshot was not available.
