3-Time DWI Driver Arrested in Lakeville Crash
LAKEVILLE, MINNESOTA - According to a criminal complaint on Sunday, September 17, 2023, a Lakeville Police Officer was on routine patrol when he came across a two-vehicle accident in the area of County Road 46 and I-35 in Lakeville, Minnesota. The two vehicles in the crash were significantly damaged, with a Chevy Silverado blocking the intersection and a Nissan Rogue pushed off into the grass by the ramp into I-35.
The Lakeville Officers spoke with the driver of the Nissan Rogue, who would later be identified as the Victim in this accident. According to the Victim's statement, they were traveling eastbound on County Road 46 with a green light when the Chevy Silverado pulled out in front of them going northbound. The Victim had to crawl to the passenger side of the car to get out of the vehicle due to the crash. They reportedly self-transported themselves to the hospital for a possible leg injury.
The Officer then went and spoke with the driver of the Silverado, who was identified as Jonathan Rodriguez. As the Officer was talking with Mr. Rodriguez, he noticed that he had bloodshot eyes and had a heavy smell of alcohol on him. Mr. Rodriguez denied having consumed any alcohol to the Officer. The Officer conducted a field sobriety test on Mr. Rodriguez, reportedly noting multiple signs of impairment during all the tests. Following the field sobriety test, Mr. Rodriguez did a breath test, where he blew a 0.299, over three times the legal limit.
Mr. Rodriguez was arrested and taken to the Lakeville Police Department, where he was given his Minnesota Breath Test Advisory. A breath sample was run in a DataMaster DMT machine, which graded Mr. Rodriguez's alcohol concentration at 0.24, three times the legal limit. According to the criminal complaint, the sample was submitted within two hours of the Officer encountering the accident scene.
According to police records, Mr. Rodriguez has had three prior impaired driving incidents within the last ten years, which will enhance this incident. According to the criminal complaint, Mr. Rodriguez was charged with misdemeanor Driving While Impaired on November 5, 2021. On June 29, 2021, he was convicted of gross misdemeanor DWI. On October 8, 2016, his driver's license was revoked under the Implied Consent Law after an incident on October 1, 2016, where Mr. Rodriguez provided false information during a DWI arrest.
Jonathan Rodriguez was charged with two felonies as a result of this accident: 1st Degree Driving While Impaired (0.08 or More) (Three or More Priors), which comes with a sentence of 3-7 years and/or a fine of $4,2000 to $14,0000, and 1st Degree Driving While Impaired (Under the Influence of Alcohol)(Three or More Priors) which comes with a sentence of 3-7 years and/or a fine of $4,2000 to $14,0000.
Mr. Rodriguez is reportedly in custody as of September 19, 2023.
