Anthony Ramirez

The driver who allegedly crashed his vehicle into a Minot memory care facility over the weekend made his initial appearance in North Central District Court on Monday.

Anthony Ramirez, 25, Spring, Texas, appeared via ITV for his hearing before Judge Richard Hagar, on two Class C felony counts of reckless endangerment-extreme indifference. A third charge for misdemeanor driving under the influence has been filed against Ramirez in municipal court.

According to court documents, Minot police were called to the scene of the crash at The View assisted living facility in the early morning hours on Saturday after a vehicle crashed into the building. A release from the North Dakota Highway Patrol said the white Toyota Tundra was traveling west on Burdick Expressway when it crossed the lanes of traffic on the Highway 2/52 Bypass and struck the building.

According to the probable cause affidavit, responding officers noted a hole in the wall of the building and a white 2019 Toyota Tundra bearing temporary Texas tags in the room. The two residents of the unit were reportedly sleeping at the time and were not injured by the crash despite one bed being broken in half and the other knocked over.

Ramirez, identified at the scene, refused to explain his activities before the crash but consented to and failed a battery of field sobriety tests, according to the affidavit. Ramirez was medically cleared at Trinity Hospital and then transported to the Ward County Jail.

The affidavit alleged that despite requesting to contact his Air Force defense counsel, Ramirez contacted family members before agreeing to submit to a breathalyzer test, which allegedly showed he had a blood alcohol content of 0.26 around two hours after the crash.

At his initial appearance, Ward County Deputy State’s Attorney Tiffany Sorgen noted Ramirez had prior charges from Texas and New Mexico for driving while under the influence or intoxicated. Sorgen asked for a $10,000 cash or surety bond, saying it was a miracle the two victims were not injured.

Hagar imposed the requested bond conditions, which also require Ramirez to enroll in a 24/7 sobriety program, to not possess, purchase or consume alcoholic beverages and to engage with pretrial services.

Ramirez’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Thursday, May 30.