Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883

Eddy County Sheriff's Report for August

Authorities identify suspect in auto theft case

On Friday, Aug. 28, Sheyenne resident Ryan Jacobson left his pickup in the school parking lot as he traveled with his family to an away football game in Cando. When he returned later that night, his vehicle was missing.

Jacobson’s vehicle was found alongside the road on N.D. Hwy. 66 east of Bisbee, in Towner County, early the next morning. Local authorities also learned that a truck and trailer was missing from near Bisbee, which was later recovered in New Rockford.

Sheriff Paul Lies said Tuesday they believe that Jacobson’s vehicle was stolen first. When the suspect blew the motor in Jacobson’s vehicle, he sought out the truck and trailer, which he drove back to New Rockford.

After reviewing surveillance footage from the school and other downtown businesses, the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office was able to identify Dyllan Peltier of New Rockford as the prime suspect in the case. Formal charges are pending, and the investigation is ongoing by the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office and Towner County Sheriff’s Office.

Peltier has had three prior convictions in Eddy County over the past 3 years, including driving under suspension, driving under revocation and illegally carrying a concealed weapon.

Eddy County Sheriff requests assistance from ND BCI Narcotics Task Force

Following an uptick in drug activity in the Sheyenne area, Eddy County Sheriff Paul Lies requested assistance from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI)’s Narcotics Task Force. The cooperative effort has resulted in several drug arrests this summer, Lies said.

Two individuals face charges after a July stop on Eddy County 1. According to the criminal complaint, Darin J. Tuenge of Devils Lake was initially stopped for speeding on Eddy County 1 on July 27. The officer found a bag containing methamphetamine, a digital scale, and hundreds of small plastic bags in a subsequent search of the vehicle.  

Colleen Wolters of Ft. Totten was traveling with Tuenge at the time, and authorities allege that Tuenge claimed the bag belonged to Wolters. He allegedly motioned to Wolters, saying “that’s you, that’s you” when the bag was recovered from the vehicle.

Wolters was charged with Class B Felony possession with intent to deliver both marijuana and methamphetamines, and cited for misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. In court on Aug. 20, the possession of a controlled substance charge was dismissed, and Wolters pleaded not guilty to the paraphernalia charge. She is due in court for a preliminary hearing/arraignment on the felony charges on Sept. 23.

An affidavit of probable cause and arrest warrant were filed on Aug. 7 for Tuenge. He was arrested on Aug. 12 and charged with Class B Felony conspiracy to deliver controlled substances, both methamphetamines and marijuana. His preliminary hearing is also set for Sept. 23. Authorities say he aided Wolters by driving her.

Michele Schindler of Carrington pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia on Aug. 20 The incident occurred on Aug. 2, at which time authorities allege she admitted that she had methamphetamine in her possession. Her pretrial conference is set for Nov. 12.

Michael J. Grager of Sykeston faces a Class C Felony theft charge after allegedly stealing a 2013 Chevy Silverado from Central City Grain in Carrington. According to the criminal complaint, Grager stole the vehicle and drove it back to New Rockford. He was later seen entering the vehicle, which was parked outside a New Rockford residence, then exiting when he saw law enforcement. Authorities allege that Grager admitted to stealing the vehicle, and that the keys were found in his pocket. The Eddy County charge was dismissed, and Grager has been charged with theft in Foster County, where the theft originally occurred.

Ashley Stoeser of Devils Lake was sentenced Aug. 20 for driving under suspension. She was stopped on U.S. Hwy. 281 on April 23, then pleaded not guilty on May 14. When she failed to appear for her pretrial conference in July, a warrant was issued for her arrest. After she was later apprehended, she reached a plea agreement in the case. Her 2-day jail sentence was suspended, and she is subject to 360 days of unsupervised probation and $350 in fines and fees.

Brian S. Pearson of Ft. Totten is charged with driving under suspension. The incident occurred on July 31, in which he was stopped near 77th Avenue and 29th Street Northeast, New Rockford. Pearson pleaded not guilty to the charge on Aug. 20, and will return for his pretrial conference on Nov. 12. Court records show that this is his third DUS conviction in the past 5 years, as he was previously convicted in Grand Forks and Nelson County. He also had active warrants for two other open DUS cases, one each in Devils Lake and Grand Forks, at the time of his arrest.

A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Wyatt Redfox of Warwick. He is accused of driving under the influence, and he failed to appear for his pretrial conference on Aug. 20. His bond is set at $750 cash. Other active warrants include Antone Eback Jr. of Ft. Totten (DUI, DUS- $500 cash appearance bond), Jessica Ray Ann Logan of Devils Lake (DUS, possession of a short barrel weapon, $1,000 cash bond), Christopher D. Lange of Carrington (possession of drug paraphernalia- metamphetamine, $1,000 cash bond), Mark Hetle of Sykeston (DUS, $500 cash bond),

Eddy County deputies deal with high speed pursuits  

On July 30, an Eddy county deputy attempted to stop a vehicle for speeding on Highway 1 east of Sheyenne. The vehicle fled from deputies at speeds over 100 mph. Deputies and BIA officers followed the vehicle at a safe distance and later found the vehicle stuck in a ditch. The male driver fled on foot and the female passenger was identified as Jalyne Dauphinais who identified the driver as Anthony Cavanaugh. Cavanaugh’s wallet and identification were later found in a field on the path which he fled on foot. The case has been turned over to the Eddy County State’s Attorney for formal charging.

On August 8, an Eddy County deputy attempted to stop two vehicles for speeding on Highway 1 east of Sheyenne. The vehicles appeared to be racing each other at speeds over 100 mph. Both vehicles traveled through the City of Sheyenne at a high rate of speed and turned in opposite directions when they reached U.S Highway 281. The deputy followed one of the vehicles, headed northbound on Hwy. 281. Another Eddy County deputy was returning from the Devils Lake jail and was able to use spike strips to deflate three of the vehicle’s tires. The vehicle traveled east on 35th Street in Benson county and was eventually stopped. The driver, Kenneth Grant Charboneau II of St. Michael, had active warrants for his arrest out of Benson County and Ramsey County. The report was forwarded to the Eddy County State’s Attorney Ashley Lies. Charboneau faces possible charges of eluding police, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, driving under suspension (his 7th offense), possession of methamphetamines, possession of drug paraphernalia (methamphetamines) and possession of drug paraphernalia (marijuana).  

A young Minot man facing fleeing charges in multiple jurisdictions after a July high-speed pursuit was found dead Aug. 22. Wells County authorities responded to a 911 call in Hamberg, where they found Gunnar Syverson of Minot. He was taken to St. Aloisius Medical Center in Harvey, where he was pronounced dead. Wells County State’s Attorney Kathleen Murray issued a statement on Aug. 26, noting that an autopsy had been ordered and that “there is no official record of the cause of death...The death of Gunnar Syverson is under investigation by the Wells County Sheriff’s Office with the assistance of ND BCI.”

Syverson was clocked going 153 mph on a motorcycle on U.S. Highway 281 in Eddy County July 3. He refused to stop and the pursuit was terminated near the intersection of Hwys. 57 and 281. The same motorcycle fled from McHenry County, Devils Lake police and BIA authorities later in the same day. The motorcycle was later located near a residence in New Rockford. Syverson was arrested at the residence a short time later on an outstanding Ward County warrant. At the time of his arrest, he was wearing the same clothing as the person who fled on the motorcycle and had the key for the motorcycle in his pocket. Syverson was arrested for disorderly conduct at this same residence back in May.

Tanner J. Baker of Ft. Totten was arrested on Aug. 19 and charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamines) and possession of drug paraphernalia and making false reports to law enforcement. He was initially stopped for having expired registration tabs, and a subsequent search of his vehicle yielded a weighable amount of methamphetamines, as well as various paraphernalia used to ingest methamphetamine. He posted $750 cash bail on Aug. 25, and he is due in court for his initial appearance on Sept. 10.

Baker’s passenger, Mariah R. Red Fox of Tokio, was also charged in the incident. She faces two misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and making false reports to law enforcement. The criminal complaint alleges that she initially gave a fake name to the officer. Red Fox pleaded not guilty to the charges on Aug. 20, and a pretrial conference in the case is set for Nov. 12.

Daniel Herman of Ft. Totten pleaded not guilty to driving under suspension and driving under the influence. Herman was arrested along Eddy County 1 on Aug. 2. He posted $500 cash bail on Aug. 4. His pretrial conference is set for Nov. 12.

Sydney Dockter of New Rockford faces misdemeanor theft charges after allegedly stealing items from Dollar General. A warrant was issued for her arrest after she failed to appear in court on Aug. 20. Upon her subsequent arrest on Aug. 27, she posted $100 cash bond. She is due to make an initial appearance in the case on Sept. 10. Infractions for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia were also filed against her on Aug. 30.