Thief River Falls Man Charged with DWI, .18 BAC
Pennington County ( trfnews.i234.me ) – A Thief River Falls man is facing a gross misdemeanor DWI charge after allegedly driving with a blood alcohol concentration more than twice the legal limit earlier this month.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Pennington County District Court, Sixto Danilo Gonzalez Sanchez, 37, has been charged with third-degree driving while impaired with an alcohol concentration of .16 or greater, a violation of Minnesota Statute 169A.20.
Court documents state that on October 4, 2025, an officer received a driving complaint about a black vehicle moving erratically at around 10 miles per hour near the Pizza Ranch in Thief River Falls. The caller said the driver would stop in the middle of the road and signal turns without being in the correct lane.
When the officer arrived, the witness pointed out the suspect’s vehicle. The officer approached the car and identified the driver as Sixto Danilo Gonzalez Sanchez. Using a cell phone translator, the officer asked if everything was okay. While speaking with Sanchez, the officer noticed he had bloodshot, watery eyes and detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle.
Sanchez told the officer he did not have a license and admitted to drinking three beers. During field sobriety testing, the officer observed distinct signs of intoxication, including lack of smooth pursuit and sustained nystagmus in both eyes.
Because of the language barrier, the officer did not attempt balance-based tests but administered a preliminary breath test, which showed a result of .19. Sanchez was arrested and transported to the Pennington County Law Enforcement Center.
After difficulties with phone interpreters, Sanchez was read the implied consent advisory and given a chance to contact an attorney, which he declined. He then consented to an official breath test using the DataMaster (DMT), which recorded a blood alcohol concentration of .18.
If convicted, the charge carries a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and a $3,000 fine.
For more information about Minnesota DWI laws and penalties, visit the Minnesota Department of Public Safety DWI Resource Page.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
