Man Gets Charged With DWI After Crashing Into Liquor Store
News sources reported that Keith Alan Potretzke, a man from Burnsville, Minnesota, received a DWI charge after allegedly running into a liquor store building while driving drunk. The incident occurred last December, when Bursnville police officials responded to an emergency phone call from Big Discount Liquors employees, saying that someone had crashed into the side of the store. Witnesses described the suspect as a white male in his 50’s. They also told police personnel that he was “stumbling around” the parking lot…and left the scene in the partially-mangled vehicle after the liquor store staff refused to sell him alcohol.
Police officials reported the brick wall had minor damages, but no structural damage. Luckily, Big Discount Liquors employees were able to write down and give the man’s license plate number to the police officers. It was then determined that the vehicle belonged to Potretzke, who was found at a Bloomington restaurant where he was employed. Police officials located Potretzke’s vehicle, which had apparent damage in the front end, at the restaurant’s parking lot. Potretzke told police that he’d left the scene because the building seemed unscathed by the crash and denied drinking any alcohol. However, officers were able to detect a strong alcohol odor on him and noticed that he had bloodshot eyes and a poor balance.
Potretzke was administered various field sobriety tests, all of which he failed. Legal officers were able to determine that his blood alcohol content was .24, three times the legal limit. Potretzke received two charges of gross misdemeanor DWI, which have penalties of serving one year in prison and a $3,000 fine. In addition, he also received a charge for for his hit-and-run crime, failing to notify the store owner of the accident, which has a penalty of serving 90 days in jail or a $1,000 fine. Potretzke is summoned to appear in court for a hearing on February 11.
If you have been arrested for driving drunk, contact an experienced and skilled Minnesota DWI attorney for legal assistance.
