KANDIYOHI COUNTY, Minn. (trfnews.i234.me) – A former Kandiyohi County Deputy has pleaded guilty to driving under the influence after crashing his squad car on July 18. Christopher Flatten, 39 years old at the time of the incident, was sentenced to 90 days in jail with a stay of execution for two years and fined $300.
According to reports, law enforcement responded to a rural area near County Road 4 just before 6:30 p.m. on July 18 after receiving a 911 call regarding a squad SUV that had rolled several times and was sitting in a field. Two Minnesota State Troopers arrived at the scene and found Flatten unresponsive inside the vehicle, which was heavily damaged.
Witnesses described seeing the squad car turn onto U.S. Highway 12 without stopping at a stop sign, with one witness noting that the vehicle was “all over the road” and swerving onto the grass of the shoulder. The second witness reported seeing the squad leave the road and hit the ditch, rolling five or six times.
Following the incident, investigators obtained a search warrant for a sample of Flatten’s blood after he refused to provide one at the medical facility where he was being treated. Troopers noted that Flatten smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot and glassy eyes, and slurred speech while speaking with him.
Flatten resigned from his position as a deputy on October 7. The incident highlights concerns regarding law enforcement accountability and public safety. Chris Harper reporting for trfnews.i234.me