Detroit Lakes Man Hides In River Muck For Hours To Evade DWI Arrest: Police

BECKER COUNTY, MN — A Detroit Lakes man was arrested Monday night after leading officers on a foot chase, hiding in a river, and spending hours camouflaged in a swamp, according to authorities.

Cole Edward Franzen, 28, was taken into custody at 9:55 p.m. that night and is facing charges of driving while impaired, fleeing on foot, obstruction of justice, and violating a felony court order.

The incident began earlier in the day when Frazee police responded to a report of a possible impaired driver.

An officer located the vehicle and spoke with the driver, later identified as Franzen. After determining he was impaired, Franzen fled on foot, authorities said. A taser was deployed but did not stop him, according to police.

Franzen ran into the Ottertail River near River Drive South and then disappeared into nearby cattails, where he buried himself in mud and reeds to avoid detection, authorities said.

Multiple agencies responded, including the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, Minnesota State Patrol, Detroit Lakes police, and local EMS and rescue crews.

Airboats and drones were deployed, but attempts to locate Franzen were unsuccessful for several hours.

Eventually, he emerged from the reeds and was nearly caught but fled again into the river. Around 8:55 p.m., deputies on an airboat made contact with him, but he refused to get into the boat.

Another airboat was brought in from the White Earth Police Department, and Franzen was finally taken into custody just before 10 p.m.