On February 1, 2026, around 1:41am, Coon Rapids Officer Backman was patrolling Highway 610 NW in Anoka County, MN, when he observed a vehicle turn off its headlights and taillights and rapidly accelerate. Officer Backman clocked the vehicle at 117 mph in a 65 mph zone. Officer Backman activated his emergency lights and siren to conduct a traffic stop but eventually lost sight of the vehicle. Officers Aldrich and Roth responded to assist and observed the vehicle, with its lights off, traveling at a high rate of speed on the Highway 610 NW offramp to Coon Rapids Blvd NW. The vehicle ran a red light at the intersection while Officer Aldrich activated his emergency lights and siren.
Once the officers caught up to the vehicle, Officer Aldrich conducted a PIT maneuver that brought the vehicle to a stop. Officers observed the driver and two passengers in the vehicle. The driver was identified as RAINSFORD WALTER WACHEN PETERS [DOB REDACTED], Defendant herein. He was the vehicle's registered owner and had a revoked driver's license. During a search of the vehicle, an open container of alcohol was found on the rear passenger-side floorboard. Defendant has several prior traffic offenses that raise public-safety concerns.
He was convicted on 11/24/25 for speeding, driving with a revoked driver's license (DAR), having expired license plates, excessively dark tint, and no proof of insurance. He has a second DAR conviction from 8/8/25, a reckless driving conviction from 6/9/25, speeding convictions from 1/24/25 and 2/7/25, and additional traffic convictions. He has no prior criminal convictions. As of the filing of this complaint, Defendant is in the custody of the Anoka County Jail.
