(Valley News Live) – A man is charged with felony theft, reckless endangerment and DUI after police say he crashed a stolen car into a Grand Forks home and a natural gas line on Oct. 27.
Elmi Abdikadir Elmi was charged Tuesday in Grand Forks County District Court, according to the docket and a police officer’s declaration of probable cause.
Elmi is charged with theft of property valued at $10,000 to $50,000, a Class B felony. He faces two Class C felonies: reckless endangerment with extreme indifference, and contact by bodily fluids with an emergency responder, knowingly. He is also charged with criminal mischief, a Class A misdemeanor, and with driving under the influence at 0.08% or greater, first offense, and driving under suspension, each a Class B misdemeanor.
What police say happened
According to court documents, officers were called to the crash at about 11:29 p.m. Oct. 27. A 2016 Audi TT had hit the east side of a house, causing significant structural damage, and struck a natural gas line and a city street sign. Officers pulled a man from the driver’s seat. Gas leaked from the damaged line, and officers and firefighters evacuated surrounding houses.
The car’s owner told officers he did not know Elmi and had not given him permission to use it, and that it was stolen from another home. He valued it at about $16,000.
The DUI and paramedic allegations
Officers smelled alcohol while Elmi was in an ambulance and noted bloodshot, watery eyes and slurred speech. Elmi told paramedics he had been drinking, and he had a suspended North Dakota license. In the ambulance, he spit on a paramedic, and some of it got in an eye, leaving it irritated.
Police got a warrant for a blood sample at the hospital. The declaration does not give a result. Elmi is currently in custody at the Grand Forks County Jail.
The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court. Elmi is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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