Arvilla man says Grand Forks County explosive possession is 'a giant misunderstanding'
Jun. 13—GRAND FORKS — During his initial appearance in Grand Forks County court Friday afternoon, June 13, an Arvilla man claimed the situation in which he has been accused of explosives possession is a "giant misunderstanding."
"I believe the whole thing is being grossly mischaracterized," Christopher Ryan Ringsrud-Knowels said, addressing Judge Don Hager remotely from the Grand Forks County Correctional Center. "... I'm completely stupefied with how it even got this far."
Ringsrud-Knowels, 42, said what law enforcement has characterized as a "homemade explosive device" was actually a smoke bomb used to kill gophers.
He and his codefendant, 41-year-old Gabriel Patrick Messmer, of Fargo, are charged with Class C felony possession of explosives, which has a maximum five-year sentence.
At 8:41 a.m. Wednesday, June 11, a North Dakota Highway Patrol trooper observed a vehicle traveling on I-29 with reflective tint on the front windows, according to a declaration of probable cause filed in the cases. The trooper initiated a traffic stop, identifying Messmer as the driver and Ringsrud-Knowels as the passenger.
He alleged Ringsrud-Knowels was immediately apprehensive, appearing to be very nervous and irritated by the interaction with law enforcement.
While speaking with Messmer, the trooper said he seemed nervous, restless and standoffish. He claimed to have taken Ringsrud-Knowels to Grafton to see his father, and said they were on their way back to Fargo.
The trooper requested a K-9 on scene to do an open-air sniff of the vehicle, during which there was a positive hit, according to the declaration. Ringsrud-Knowels allegedly admitted there was marijuana in the vehicle.
During a vehicle search, law enforcement found "a cylindrical device wrapped in electrical tape with an exposed fuse coming out of the top," the declaration said. Ringsrud-Knowels allegedly said the device was a smoke bomb.
Law enforcement believed it was a homemade explosive device, and contacted the local bomb squad. Upon arrival, the bomb squad positively identified the device as an explosive and successfully detonated it.
During Ringsrud-Knowels' hearing, Assistant State's Attorney Emerson Solemsaas requested a $100,000 L bond, which means a defendant has to either pay the total in cash or go through a bail bondsman with sufficient proof that the entirety could be paid if necessary.
Solemsaas explained the reasons for the high bond request were concerns about public safety, the nature and severity of the crime as well as the uncertainty about where the defendants were headed with the explosive. In Messmer's hearing, his attorney, Nick Roller, argued it was known where the two men were heading — back to Fargo.
Solemsaas also said Ringsrud-Knowels had no difficulty paying substantial bonds in his other open North Dakota and Minnesota cases, including
an ongoing methamphetamine case in Grand Forks County.
Ringsrud-Knowels made his argument about the allegations at hand, and also said $1,400 was wrongfully seized from him during his arrest. He said he could prove the money came from legitimate means.
Hager set Ringsrud-Knowels' bond at $50,000 cash or surety.
The prosecution requested the same bond in Messmer's case, with largely the same reasoning. Roller said his client was giving Ringsrud-Knowels a ride as a favor because Ringsrud-Knowels could not drive. Roller said the car's owner and Ringsrud-Knowels took responsibility for the explosive.
He also said Messmer has a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and requires extensive medical care and medication. Roller asked for a personal recognizance (PR) bond, which means the defendant doesn't have to pay anything unless they fail to appear for court or violate other release conditions. He said his client is unable to work.
Hager set Messmer's bond at $10,000 cash or surety.
Ringsrud-Knowels and Messmer will return to court for preliminary hearings and/or arraignments at 9 a.m. July 21.
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