L.C Wesley Armstrong, 23, of Walker was charged Aug. 3 in Cass County Court in connection with an Aug. 1 accident that killed a pregnant passenger in the car he was driving.
Armstrong faces one count of third-degree murder; one count of second-degree manslaughter; and two counts of criminal vehicular homicide, according to the criminal complaint.
Latoya A. Burks, 21, of Walker, died Aug. 1 in the rollover accident on Highway 371, approximately one mile south of Backus, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.
Burks, pregnant at the time of the accident, was a passenger in a 1998 GMC Jimmy driven by Armstrong.
According to the criminal complaint, the vehicle was headed north on Highway 371 when it left the roadway, rolled over and hit a pine tree around 1:40 p.m.
Fire and ambulance personnel responded along with the Minnesota State Patrol and the Cass County Sheriff's Department.
Burks' 5-year-old daughter was also a passenger in the crash, but was not injured.
According to the criminal complaint, the 5-year-old told law enforcement at the scene that Armstrong had let go of the steering wheel and grabbed her mom with both hands. He allegedly pulled off the wig she was wearing. The daughter said they then went off the roadway.
At St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd, a state trooper spoke with Armstrong, who said he had been arguing with Burks over a money issue. Armstrong also said Burks had grabbed the steering wheel, causing him to lose control of the vehicle.
According to the complaint, Armstrong allegedly approached the 5-year-old at the hospital and told her she did not have to speak with the police.
Armstrong was treated at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Brainerd, released into law enforcement custody and jailed.
