A 24-year-old Bemidji man was charged Tuesday in Beltrami County District Court with felony first-degree DWI and theft of a motor vehicle after a Beltrami County canine helped apprehend the defendant who had fled to the top of Buena Vista ski hill.
Kevin Wayne Gibbs was tracked by canine Hunter after a Beltrami County Deputy responded to a report of a single vehicle crash on County Road 15 near Buena Vista Ski Area around 8 p.m. Sunday.
The vehicle involved in the collision matched the description of a vehicle reported stolen from Irvine Avenue shortly before the accident, according to the formal complaint from Beltrami County District Court.
The reporting party said the defendant appeared to have injuries to his face and was trying to hitch a ride, according to the complaint.
A responding deputy found the vehicle in the parking lot and tracks in the snow that suggested Gibbs had tried to enter the chalet before climbing the ski hill, according to the complaint.
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The defendant was located by canine Hunter at the top of the hill. Gibbs appeared intoxicated and was suffering from a small laceration to his jaw, according to the complaint.
Due to the extreme cold, deputies did not administer field sobriety tests. Gibbs later refused blood alcohol analysis, according to the complaint.
The defendant has three prior DWI convictions dating back to 2001 and an outstanding warrant in Cass County for gross misdemeanor DWI.
If convicted on the most serious charge of felony first-degree DWI, Gibbs could face a maximum penalty of seven years in prison and $14,000 in fines.
