On Monday July 14, 2025, Frazee Police were made aware of a potentially impaired driver in the city of Frazee. A Frazee Police Officer located the vehicle and made contact with the driver. The officer initiated Standardized Field Sobriety Exercises and asked for a second unit. It was determined the male driver was impaired. The male party took off running and a taser was deployed.
The suspect was not detained and was able to continue running. The suspect entered the Ottertail River near River Drive South. Additional units from Detroit Lakes Police Department, Becker County Sheriff’s Office and Minnesota State Patrol responded as well as Essentia EMS and Frazee Rescue. Attempts to coerce the suspect out of the river were unsuccessful and drones were launched. The suspect then went into the cattails and buried himself in the mud and camouflaged himself with the cattail reeds.
Detroit Lakes Fire Department responded to the scene with Becker County’s airboat. Ottertail County also responded with an amphibious rescue SHERP UTV. Rescue attempts with those two units were also unsuccessful.
After several hours of the suspect hiding in the reeds, he made his way to land where he was nearly apprehended by deputies in the area. The suspect again went into the river to evade authorities. Around 8:55 pm, deputies on the airboat made contact with the suspect. The suspect would not cooperate with deputies in getting into the boat. Another air boat was requested from White Earth Police Department.
The suspect was taken into custody at 9:55 pm. Cole Edward Franzen, 28, Detroit Lakes faces charges of Driving While Impaired, Fleeing on Foot, Obstruction of Justice and. Felony Court Order Violation.