Washington County Commissioner Arrested For Domestic Assault

Minnesota’s elected and appointed officials are typically subjected to heightened scrutiny in their day to day lives. As a result, any arrest of a public official usually ends up as a widely reported story. Washington County Commissioner Bill Pulkrabek’s recent arrest is no different.

Late Monday afternoon, Pulkrabek, the former Oakdale mayor, was arrested on suspicion of committing two crimes: felony domestic assault by strangulation, and misdemeanor fifth-degree domestic assault. According to the alleged victim, Pulkrabek and the victim got into a heated argument. Pulkrabek then allegedly threw the victim onto the bed, placed his arm across her neck, grabbed her by the hair, and pulled her down the stairs and out the door. The alleged victim did not require medical attention.

Through his attorney, Pulkrabek denied all allegations. Pulkrabek has not been formally charged with any crime related to this incident. The investigation is ongoing. Even though the alleged crime occurred in Washington County, in order to avoid any potential conflict of interest, the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, not the Washington County Attorney’s Office, will be prosecuting the offense.

Defending yourself against a domestic violence allegation can seem daunting. Not only do you face the possibility of jail or prison time, but domestic violence convictions carry serious collateral consequences, including loss of a job, loss of rights to bear firearms, and orders for protection that may bar you from contacting certain persons. However, if you have an attorney on your side with extensive experience defending domestic assault allegations, your defenses can be much stronger.

Max Keller has won countless jury trial cases involving misdemeanors and felonies, sex crimes, and DWI’s. He is a member of the Minnesota Society for Criminal Justice, which only allows the top 50 criminal defense attorneys in the state as members. Max is a frequent speaker at CLE’s and is often asked for advice by other defense attorneys across Minnesota.

What to Do If You Have Been Charged with a Criminal Offense

Getting falsely accused of domestic violence in Minnesota may put you at risk of losing your job, custody of your children, or even your home. You may face criminal charges and the accusation may damage your reputation in the community, as people will now view you as an abuser. False domestic violence accusations often happen when couples are in a contentious relationship with a risk of divorce.
The top reasons for license suspension in Minnesota include driving under the influence of alcohol, repeated traffic violations, and failure to appear in court or pay fines. Failure to pay child support, criminal convictions and felonies, medical conditions/disabilities, and drag racing can also lead to license suspension. The suspension takes away your driving privileges, preventing you from driving legally.
Motorists arrested for allegedly driving while impaired might wonder, “Can you refuse a breathalyzer?” In Minnesota, the implied consent law requires a person licensed to drive, control, or operate a vehicle to agree to a chemical test to check for alcohol or other intoxicants in that person’s body. Refusing to submit to a breathalyzer or another chemical test is a crime, often charged as a gross misdemeanor.