Pennington County, MN (trfnews.i234.me)—On January 1, law enforcement conducted a traffic stop near the 300 block of Atlantic Ave. N. The driver, identified as 39-year-old Trace Joseph Hegel from Thief River Falls, was arrested and charged with third-degree Driving While Impaired (DWI) with one aggravating factor.
According to the official complaint, officers observed signs of impairment in Hegel, who subsequently failed field sobriety tests. Two DataMaster (DMT) breath tests indicated a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.10, exceeding Minnesota’s legal limit of 0.08
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A search of the vehicle revealed an empty bottle of Stella Rosa wine beneath the center console and two bottles of Mickey’s Fine Malt Liquor on the front passenger floor—one empty and one full. Stella Rosa wines typically have an alcohol content ranging from 5% to 7%, while Mickey’s Fine Malt Liquor has an alcohol content of approximately 5.6%
The complaint also noted that Hegel had a prior DWI conviction within the past ten years, which serves as an aggravating factor under Minnesota law
In Minnesota, a third-degree DWI is classified as a gross misdemeanor, carrying penalties that may include up to one year in jail, fines up to $3,000, and license revocation
I’m Chris Harper, reporting for trfnews.i234.me