Michael Vincent Ertelt

On March 20, 2026, Clay County Sheriff’s Deputy Z. Johnson cleared a call for service at the Willow Inn and Suites in Moorhead, Clay County, when he was contacted by a narcotics detective regarding a vehicle that had just left the Willow Inn. The vehicle was described as a white Buick Envision bearing Texas plates beginning with “VTM”. Dep. Johnson was alerted that the vehicle was driven by Michael Vincent Ertelt [DOB REDACTED](hereinafter “Defendant”) and that Defendant had active warrants for his arrest.

Dep. Johnson located the vehicle at the Circle K gas station located at 725 30th Ave S in the City of Moorhead, County of Clay, State of Minnesota. Dep. Johnson approached the male driver, who identified himself as Defendant. Defendant was detained and Dep. Johnson observed two females walking towards the vehicle Defendant was in. The females quickly changed directions after seeing Defendant being placed in handcuffs and walked northbound away from the vehicle. One female was wearing a green long sleeved shirt, camo pants and a pink tie-dyed winter cap and the other female was seen wearing a black sweatshirt.

Defendant told law enforcement that the two females were “Brianna” and her daughter. Defendant stated he has missed a meeting with his North Dakota parole officer and identified his parole officer. Dep. Johnson spoke with the parole officer, who confirmed he had issued a warrant for Defendant for a parole violation. The parole officer also told Dep. Johnson that he had received information that Defendant was moving large quantities of narcotics in the Fargo/Moorhead area. It was learned the vehicle was rented and Defendant stated his friend had rented it.

Defendant consented to Dep. Johnson looking in the vehicle for the rental paperwork. When doing so, Dep. Johnson observed a can in the center console with what appeared to be a corner of a plastic baggie with a crystalline substance sticking out of the top. Dep. Johnson opened the can and observed a plastic baggie with a crystalline substance inside, which appeared to be methamphetamine. Minnesota State Trooper B. Bauer informed Dep. Johnson that he had seen the two females get into a Doyle’s Cab vehicle at a nearby store.

Dep. Johnson observed a purse in Defendant’s vehicle, believed to belong to one of the females. Trooper Bauer conducted a traffic stop on a Doyle’s cab in the 800 block of 30th Avenue South and located two females matching the earlier description in the backseat. The one female identified her self as Brianna Lee Bagnall [DOB REDACTED] and her minor daughter. Brianna stated she had been staying at the Willow Inn and that there was chaos and cops all over so she got a ride from a male. Brianna confirmed her purse was in Defendant’s vehicle.

Brianna and her daughter were transported back to the Circle K. Defendant stated that Brianna had large amounts of bags inside the vehicle and the only people who had been inside the vehicle that day were he, Brianna and her daughter. Defendant stated Brianna was in the front seat and her daughter was in the back. Defendant believed Brianna to be a user of narcotics. Once back at the Circle K, Brianna spoke with Dep. Johnson and confirmed she had been in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. Dep.