Hennepin Co. sheriff was driving over 120 mph, not wearing seatbelt during DWI crash, according to State Patrol

Deanna Weniger, Pioneer Press, St. Paul, Minn.
·3 min read

Jan. 21—Hennepin County Sheriff David Hutchinson was driving over 120 mph and was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of his December DWI crash in near Alexandria, Minn., according to investigative files released Thursday by the State Patrol.

The files, which include audio of interviews with Hutchinson, blood-alcohol analysis results and crash reports, paint a fuller picture of the rollover on Interstate 94 that totaled his county-owned SUV, and have renewed calls for the embattled sheriff's resignation.

Hutchinson was sentenced last month to two years' probation and fined $610, after pleading guilty to one count of driving while intoxicated. Elected in 2018, Hutchinson has said the crash was a "wake-up call" and that he has enrolled in an outpatient treatment program to address "my issues with alcohol and my overall health."

Following the release of the State Patrol files Thursday morning, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz joined a growing chorus of public officials saying Hutchinson should step down.

"I'm not a resident of Hennepin County, and I'm speaking as an individual on this, but I think most Minnesotans know, and most Minnesotans understand, that there's consequences for decisions like that," Walz said during an unrelated press conference.

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, who was present there, added that "it's not our role to hire and fire the sheriff of Hennepin County, but as a constituent, I would say that it is time for him to resign."

Earlier this month, a majority of Hennepin County commissioners also called for Hutchinson's resignation.

Messages seeking comment from Hutchinson's attorney and the Hennepin County Sheriff's office were not returned Thursday afternoon.

THE ACCIDENT

Hutchinson was driving back from a Minnesota Sheriffs' Association conference at the Arrowwood Resort about 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 8, when he crashed the 2021 black Ford Explorer about five miles east of Alexandria on I-94.

The crash analysis report showed Hutchinson reached speeds of 126 mph, and that the driver's-side seatbelt was not engaged. Inside the vehicle were three firearms and an unopened bottle of whiskey.

Hutchinson was hospitalized with three broken ribs, as well as injuries to his head and hip. At first, he told responding officers that he had not been driving.

"Hutchinson stated multiple times that he was not driving and that he did not know who was driving. Hutchinson stated at one point that he had called a cab and he was a passenger," Douglas County Deputy Dylan Kriese said in his report.

According to a urine analysis taken about three hours after the crash, Hutchinson had a blood-alcohol content of .134 percent. The legal limit to drive in Minnesota is .08 percent.

A State Patrol report said Hutchinson had slurred speech, poor balance, smelled of alcohol and was the lone occupant of the car.

The day after the crash, Hutchinson released a statement admitting to being the driver saying, "I made the inexcusable decision to drive after drinking alcohol and I am deeply sorry."

Hutchinson was originally charged in Douglas County District Court with four DWI-related counts, but three were dismissed as part of his plea agreement.