Police believe that a domestic spat led to several charges for an Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota man last week. Law enforcement says that the man was driving through an Inver Grove Heights intersection around 12:38 in the morning without any headlights illuminated.
Inver Grove police made a stop to investigate and claim that officers suspected that the man in the driver’s seat was under the influence. The officers apparently expanded the scope of the traffic stop to investigate a possible driving while impaired offense.
Law enforcement claims that the man admitted drinking three beers that night during the stop. Police also reportedly include indicia of impairment in the police report, including the often cited observation of bloodshot or watery eyes, slurred speech and the alleged smell of alcohol. During the roadside probe, authorities claim that the driver tested 0.155 percent in a preliminary breath test.
But, law enforcement says other legal issues arose during the traffic stop. Law enforcement claims that a fully loaded gun was recovered from between the driver’s seat of the car and the center console. Police claim that the driver said that he left home to avoid a spat, but officers claim that the man appeared to have blood on his lip.
Meanwhile, law enforcement says that a car passed the DWI investigation three times. That car was registered to the same address where the driver lives, and law enforcement apparently made a second traffic stop of the passing car.
The female driver of that vehicle claims that the male driver and she had an argument, which turned physical. Officers claim the woman was missing several fake fingernails and had blood on her fingers; she accuses the male driver of slapping her during the argument.
The man was taken into custody on suspicion of DWI, domestic abuse and carrying a pistol with an alcohol level of 0.10 percent BAC or greater.
In general, Minnesota law prohibits a person who is under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance from carrying a pistol on about the person’s clothes or person. Like the DWI statutes, Minnesota’s law on carrying while under the influence has specified enhancements.
The legal limit for carrying a pistol is lower than the general legal limit to drive a vehicle. The law makes it a misdemeanor to carry with a BAC reading of 0.04 percent or more, and the law sets higher consequences with a reading of 0.10 percent or more.
Sources:
- Inver Grove Heights Patch, “IGH Man Arrested for ‘Carrying Under the Influence’,” Clare Kennedy, March 20, 2013
- Minnesota Statutes section 624.7142, “Carrying while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance.”