Traffic stop may have nabbed bank robbers near Frazee

In the late evening hours of Tuesday, Sept. 1 on Highway 10 east of Detroit Lakes, a State Trooper stopped a vehicle for speeding.

Upon further investigation it was learned there was a warrant for the driver, issued by the FBI, in relation to a bank robbery in Gilby, N.D.

The driver, William Randall Collins, 46, of Nashville, Tenn., was taken into custody and later turned over to the FBI. Another individual, Debra Kay Jensen, 47, of Grand Forks, N.D., was also taken into custody at the scene, and after investigation was released with no charges.

Upon checking it was discovered that the vehicle Collins was driving, though it had Minnesota license plates, was listed as stolen from a dealership in Florida. The vehicle was secured in a storage facility by the State Patrol office in Detroit Lakes. The FBI was informed and conducted a search of the vehicle and seized several items.

Since the driver was believed to be armed, but no gun was observed at the traffic stop, the State Patrol brought in a dog trained to detect explosive and gun powder residue and then conducted a search of the roadside near the traffic stop. This was done to help maintain public safety in the event a gun was tossed out of the vehicle. No gun was found and the search was called off.

The State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Becker County Sheriff's Department as well as the Detroit Lakes and Frazee police departments.

The State Patrol is continuing to assist the FBI with their investigation.