A Detroit Lakes man was taken into custody and faces multiple charges after a lengthy standoff with authorities on Monday, July 14. Cole Edward Franzen, 28, ran from officers and eventually ended up in the Otter Tail River where he hid amongst the mud and cattails for hours.

According to the department’s press release, Frazee Police were made aware of a potentially impaired driver in the city, located the vehicle and made contact with the driver, Franzen.

The officer initiated Standardized Field Sobriety Exercises and asked for a second unit. It was determined that Franzen was impaired. Franzen took off running and a taser was deployed. The suspect was not detained and was able to continue running. 

The suspect entered the Otter Tail River near River Drive South. Additional units from Detroit Lakes Police  Department, Becker County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota State Patrol responded as well as Essentia EMS and Frazee Rescue. 

Attempts to coerce the suspect out of the river were unsuccessful and drones were launched. The suspect then went into the cattails and buried himself in the mud and camouflaged himself with the cattail reeds.

The Detroit Lakes Fire Department responded to the scene with Becker County’s airboat. Otter Tail County also responded with an amphibious rescue SHERP UTV. Rescue attempts with those two units were also unsuccessful.

After several hours of the suspect hiding in the reeds, he made his way to land where he was nearly apprehended by deputies in the area. The suspect again went into the river to evade authorities. 

Around 8:55 p.m., deputies on the airboat made contact with the suspect. The suspect would not cooperate with deputies in getting into the boat. Another air boat was requested from White Earth Police Department.

Franzen was finally taken into custody at 9:55 p.m. Cole Edward Franzen, 28, Detroit Lakes faces charges of Driving While Impaired, Fleeing on Foot, Obstruction of Justice and Felony Court Order Violation.

Last December, Franzen was convicted of felony domestic assault, felony demonstrable bodily  harm of a peace officer and felony disarming/taking a defensive device from a peace officer in a similar case of eluding and struggling with Otter Tail County deputies while living in Pelican Rapids.