On January 11, 2026, at approximately 7:49 pm, Deputy Jack Patten of the Itasca County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to a report of a vehicle in the ditch. Dispatch notes indicated that the reporting party advised that the people from the vehicle kept asking to use the reporting party's bathroom and/or acting "a little strange". The reporting party indicated that she had locked the door to her house. Deputy Patten proceeded to the reporting party's address at [ADDRESS REDACTED] 74, Goodland, Itasca County, at which time he observed a vehicle off the roadway in the eastbound ditch.
Two (2) male parties were standing outside the vehicle. The registered owner of the vehicle was identified as W. N. S. The two (2) individuals outside the vehicle were identified as Matthew James Shockency and Brandon Adam Potter. Said deputy observed that the suspect vehicle appeared to have been traveling eastbound before veering into the eastbound ditch, crossing the driveway of the residence at 14803 and coming to rest in the ditch on the other side of the driveway. The vehicle did not appear to be significantly damaged and the airbags were not deployed.
Both Potter and Shockency denied needing medical attention. Both parties appeared to be nervous and Potter was sweating. Deputy Patten contacted dispatch and learned that the driving privileges of both Potter and Shockency were canceled as inimical to public safety. Both parties initially denied being the driver. Deputy Patten then spoke with Potter separately, who initially advised that the registered owner had been driving. When Deputy Patten asked where W. N. S. Was now, Potter claimed that someone had came and gave her a ride, but he was unable to name the individual who had picked her up.
Deputy Patten then again asked Potter who had been driving, at which time he indicated that it had been Shockency. Deputy Patten then again spoke with Shockency, who initially denied driving. He claimed that someone other than Potter had been driving. However, he could not name who the driver had been, nor could he explain why he and Potter were the only ones with the vehicle when said deputy arrived on scene. Shockency then admitted to being "in physical control of the vehicle", but only to try driving it out of the ditch.
When Deputy Patten confronted Shockency with the fact that Potter said he had been the one driving, Shockency finally admitted to driving. 3 ••-CR-••-•••• Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 1/13/2026 Shockency was then arrested, handcuffed, and searched incident to arrest. He was then placed in Deputy Patten's squad. Potter advised Deputy Patten that he had a ride coming from Hibbing and again stated that Shockency had been the only one driving the vehicle. A tow was contacted to remove the vehicle from the scene.
