A late-night traffic stop near a Hawley storage complex turned into a tense standoff in the back of a squad car, with a Moorhead woman now facing a stack of felony charges after deputies say they found illegal guns, burglary tools and heard direct threats against law enforcement and their families.
Clay County deputies say the woman slipped out of her handcuffs inside a patrol cruiser, shouted a chilling warning at a deputy and later allegedly threatened officers' loved ones. The Clay County Sheriff's Office and the Minnesota Department of Corrections took her into custody, and investigators are still piecing together what happened at the storage units along Highway 10.
Traffic Stop Leads To Weapons, Alleged Threats
According to Valley News Live, a Clay County sergeant pulled over the pickup early Monday after watching it leave a storage unit complex off Highway 10 near the Hawley Airport and noticing it did not have a front license plate.
Deputies told investigators they quickly spotted what looked like burglary gear. They reported finding bolt cutters, a pry bar, and what appeared to be a power tool in the driver's pocket. Not long after, authorities learned three storage units at the complex had been broken into.
While in the back of a patrol vehicle, the woman allegedly slipped her handcuffs, climbed onto the backseat, and shouted, "One of us is not coming out of this alive," according to the same report. Deputies say the threats continued and later extended to officers' families.
Weapons And Burglary Tools Recovered
During a search of the truck, deputies recovered a loaded .25-caliber handgun tucked under the center console and a cut-down 12-gauge shotgun hidden under the rear seat, Local 12 reported.
Investigators say the shotgun had been shortened to about 25.5 inches, making it an illegal short-barreled firearm under state law. Deputies also reported finding about 20 rounds of ammunition, along with additional burglary-related items, including wire cutters and binoculars.
Charges And Potential Penalties
The woman is now facing multiple charges, including possession of a firearm or ammunition by an ineligible person, possession of a short-barreled shotgun, possession of burglary tools, threats of violence and carrying a pistol without a permit, according to Valley News Live.
Those weapons-possession felonies can bring serious time if convicted, and Valley News Live notes that some of the counts carry potential prison terms of up to 15 years along with fines in the tens of thousands of dollars. Prosecutors will decide whether to file any additional charges as the investigation moves forward.
Booking And Court Timeline
According to Local 12, jail records list the suspect as Danielle Marie Whitebird. She was booked at 2:38 a.m. on June 1 on a combination of felony and misdemeanor counts and made her initial appearance in court the following day.
The Clay County Sheriff's Office and the Minnesota Department of Corrections both assisted in taking Whitebird into custody. Officials say the probe into the storage unit break-ins is ongoing, and no updated charging document has been posted publicly yet.
