Ryan Lee Bottema, 26, of Big Lake, is charged with one count of Felony Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle (609.487.3), one count of Gross Misdemeanor 3rd Degree DWI – Alcohol Concentration 0.08 Within 2 Hours (169A.20.1(5)), and one count of Misdemeanor Open bottle law (169A.35.3).

According to the complaint, on Dec. 27, 2025, at approximately 10:59 p.m., a Sherburne County Deputy was conducting a traffic stop at Hwy. 25 and Co. Rd. 17 when he observed a vehicle with a loud exhaust racing past other cars. The deputy attempted to follow the vehicle, but the driver reportedly extinguished the vehicle’s lights. Due to heavy fog, the deputy could only track the vehicle when the driver occasionally applied the brakes.

The deputy located vehicle parts on the roadway near Co. Rd. 81 and eventually stopped a vehicle on Co. Rd. 73 that matched the description of the fleeing car. The driver, identified as Bottema, reportedly had slurred speech and bloodshot, watery eyes. When approached, Bottema allegedly stated, “You got me, you got me on the seat belt.”

Investigators observed a fog light dangling from the driver’s side wheel well and a missing wheel liner. Bottema initially claimed he had not hit anything but later acknowledged he had. An open bottle of Jameson whiskey was reportedly located on the rear passenger floorboard. Following his arrest, Bottema allegedly made several vulgar comments to the deputy, stating, “You probably had zero friends in high school,” and “I had like four beers and you decide to be d***, I’ll roast your b**** *ss…” 

At the jail, a breath test recorded a 0.22 blood alcohol concentration.