Aldin Saric Arrested After Pelican Rapids Confrontation
A 26-year-old Fergus Falls man faces a felony threats charge and multiple misdemeanors after investigators say he assaulted one person, threatened another, and shot out a car window during confrontations in Pelican Rapids, valleynewslive.com reported. Aldin Saric was booked into the Otter Tail County Detention Facility following a traffic stop on Saturday, according to an amended criminal complaint filed in Otter Tail County District Court.
Apartment Altercation Precedes Shots Fired
Pelican Rapids police responded to an apartment at 3:38 p.m. on Saturday following a report of two men fighting. A resident told officers that Saric entered the home, yelled “Pay me my money!”, and struck him on the left side of the face before leaving the scene. Approximately 20 minutes later, officers received a call regarding shots fired at a vehicle at a second Pelican Rapids address.
A woman sitting in the passenger seat reported that Saric approached her vehicle, demanded the location of a family member who allegedly owed him money, and walked to the back of the car before shooting out a window. Investigators noted that the woman did not see a firearm during the incident. The complaint states that Saric then declared he would get a gun and kill a family member before driving away. No firearm was recovered, and Saric is not charged with any weapons offenses.
Traffic Stop and Impairment Testing
At 4:18 p.m., a Fergus Falls police officer patrolling the area spotted a vehicle matching the suspect description crossing the center line and fog lines multiple times. Officers waited for backup before executing a traffic stop near South Union Avenue and Beach Avenue. Saric exited the vehicle and complied with commands to be handcuffed.
Responding officers noted a strong odor of alcohol and observed that Saric had bloodshot, glossy eyes. Subsequent field sobriety tests at the Otter Tail County Detention Facility confirmed signs of impairment. A preliminary breath test registered 0.135, and a later test measured 0.12. Minnesota’s legal driving limit is 0.08.
Otter Tail County Court Charges
- Felony Threats of Violence: Carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
- Fifth-Degree Assault: Two misdemeanor counts tied to the apartment altercation.
- Fourth-Degree Property Damage: One misdemeanor count related to the damaged car window.
- Fourth-Degree DWI: Two misdemeanor counts added in the amended complaint filed Tuesday.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Pelican Rapids Case
What specific charges does Aldin Saric face?
Saric faces one felony count of threats of violence, two counts of fifth-degree assault, one count of fourth-degree property damage, and two counts of fourth-degree DWI. The original complaint filed on Monday did not include the DWI charges, which were added in an amended filing on Tuesday in Otter Tail County District Court.
What were the results of the breathalyzer tests?
Following his arrest near South Union Avenue and Beach Avenue, Saric underwent breath testing at the Otter Tail County Detention Facility. A preliminary test measured 0.135, and a subsequent test recorded 0.12, both exceeding Minnesota’s legal blood-alcohol concentration limit of 0.08.
Was a weapon recovered by law enforcement?
The criminal complaint does not indicate whether officers recovered a firearm following the reported shooting at the vehicle. Saric currently faces no firearm-related charges in connection with the Pelican Rapids incidents.