Ion Bascracea

One of the drivers charged in connection with a hit-and-run in southwest Minot on Monday is being held at the Ward County Jail on an immigration enforcement detainer following his initial appearance on Wednesday.

Ion Bascracea, 48, El Paso, Texas, made his initial appearance in North Central District Court Wednesday on charges of Class C felony reckless endangerment-extreme indifference, aggravated reckless driving and duty in accident involving personal injury, both Class A misdemeanors.

The charges against Bascracea stem from his alleged actions in a dispute in the parking lot of a Minot business shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday. According to court documents, Minot Police officers arrived at the scene in response to an ambulance request and were approached by multiple individuals informing them a woman had been run over by another vehicle.

Two Kia Sedonas were observed leaving the area at a high rate of speed and were subsequently pulled over in the 4100 block of South Broadway. Officers made contact with the drivers, identified as Ion Renardo-Remus Paliu, 18, and Bascracea. Paliu told officers Bascracea had run his mother over with his vehicle and left the scene. Paliu’s mother, Aurelia Miclescu, 38, had sustained a laceration and cuts to the right side of her head and right eye.

According to the affidavit, Paliu attempted to translate for Miclescu, who spoke Romanian, saying Bascracea had asked them for money but they had refused. They told investigators Bascracea crashed his vehicle into their van and they would be pursuing a criminal complaint. Misclescu was transported to a Minot hospital for treatment.

Investigators reviewed the business’s security footage of the incident, observing Bascracea driving around another vehicle and striking the front of Paliu’s vehicle. According to the affidavit, both drivers engaged in striking the other’s vehicle for a period.

After briefly disengaging, Bascracea allegedly accelerated toward Miclescu and a juvenile who was with her, intentionally attempting to strike her twice before he succeeded in doing so on a third attempt. The affidavit noted Miclescu was struck with such force that a nearby Chevy Silverado was shifted about two to three feet. Both vehicles were then seen fleeing at a high rate of speed.

Bascracea was placed under arrest and is being held on a bond of $3,000 or post 10% in Ward County, but he also has been placed under an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement detainer, according to Ward County Jail records. His preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 15.

Paliu has also been charged with a single count of Class C felony reckless endangerment-extreme indifference. He was released from the Ward County Jail after posting bond. Paliu’s initial appearance has been scheduled for Monday, July 22.