Dilworth Man Arrested After Fargo Hotel Standoff Now Faces Five Felony Charges

FARGO, North Dakota — A six-hour standoff at a Fargo hotel ended early Tuesday morning with the arrest of a 31-year-old Dilworth man wanted for multiple theft-related crimes and an escape warrant.

According to Valley News Live, officers took Trevor Nelson into custody around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday at a hotel located on the 1700 block of 44th Street South, following a tense standoff involving SWAT teams and chemical agents.

Police had been searching for Nelson for several weeks in connection with a string of thefts and a stolen vehicle case that spanned multiple jurisdictions across Cass and Clay counties.

Court Documents Reveal Multiple Felony Charges

Court records show Nelson now faces charges in two separate cases filed Tuesday.

In the first case, Nelson is accused of unauthorized use of personal identifying information to obtain credit, theft of a credit device, and misdemeanor theft under $500.

The second case, tied to the hotel standoff, includes felony charges for preventing arrest and criminal mischief (with damages estimated between $2,000 and $10,000), as well as a misdemeanor count of providing false information to law enforcement.

Authorities confirmed that Nelson was also being sought on an outstanding felony escape warrant from Cass County, which initially led officers to his hotel location.

October Theft Spree Traced Through Surveillance

According to court documents, Nelson’s alleged crime spree began on October 1, when he reportedly stole an iPhone 13 Pro and a wallet containing gift cards, debit cards, and cash totaling over $300 from Fargo Antique and Repurpose on 51st Avenue South.

Police said Nelson used one of the victim’s credit cards three times that same day, racking up unauthorized charges of $1,236.99.

Video surveillance helped investigators identify Nelson and track his movements. Footage showed him driving a silver Subaru Impreza with paper plates into the parking lot of Site on Sound just before 1 p.m. that day.

Additional footage from the antique store showed him taking the wallet and phone from an unattended counter before leaving the store.

Vehicle Theft Connection

The Subaru Nelson was driving was later discovered to have been stolen from West Fargo on September 29, just days before the theft incident.

Moorhead police recovered the vehicle on October 4, finding inside it the victim’s wallet, empty phone case, and several identification cards.

As a result, Nelson faces additional charges for possession of stolen property related to the incident.

SWAT Team Deployed After Hours-Long Standoff

Police tracked Nelson to the Fargo hotel Monday night, where they confirmed his location and surrounded the building. Officers repeatedly ordered him to come out, but Nelson refused to surrender.

The hotel was evacuated, and a search warrant was obtained. The Red River Valley SWAT team was activated to assist with the high-risk situation.

After several failed attempts to negotiate, officers deployed chemical irritants into the room to force Nelson’s compliance. Despite the irritant, Nelson continued to resist.

Hours later, SWAT officers entered the room and arrested Nelson without further incident. He was booked into the Cass County Jail, where he remains held on multiple felony charges.

Ongoing Investigation

Police said Nelson had been on the run since mid-October, and officers had previously attempted to apprehend him in Dilworth, Minnesota, where he allegedly fled from law enforcement in a vehicle on October 15.

Authorities from Fargo, Moorhead, and Dilworth have been working together in the ongoing investigation, which may result in additional charges.

Law enforcement officials have not yet released whether the female companion Nelson was believed to be staying with will face charges in connection with the case.

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