Thief River Falls 0.18 DWI After Street Spins

Thief River Falls (trfnews.i234.me) — A Roseau man faces a drunk driving charge after a pickup allegedly did “doughnuts” on a Thief River Falls street and hit
mailboxes and power boxes.

Report Of Doughnuts And Property Damage

The incident was reported on December 5 on Birchlane Drive in Thief River Falls. Callers told dispatch a pickup was spinning in the street and throwing snow or gravel.

Witnesses said the truck struck mailboxes and power boxes along the road. The driver then left the area and headed toward Third Street.

Police went to the neighborhood to look for the pickup and check for damaged property. They did not find the vehicle right away.

Suspect Vehicle Returns To Area

Shortly after the officers left, dispatch received another call from the area. The caller said the same people had returned, this time in a car.

According to the complaint, the group was outside taking photos and laughing near the damaged spots. An officer then stopped the suspect vehicle.

The officer identified the driver as Tyson Allan Cockle Janicke, 19, of Roseau.
The officer also spoke with other people in the vehicle.

DWI Charge And Underage Drinking Citation

The officer reported several signs of impairment from Cockle Janicke. A preliminary breath test showed a result of 0.206 blood alcohol content.

Later, a DMT test showed a result of 0.18 blood alcohol content, according to the complaint. In Minnesota, a level of 0.08 or higher is considered impaired driving.

Cockle Janicke has been charged with third-degree DWI — 0.16 or greater. He was arrested at the scene. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Libby Parker Erickson, 18, of Thief River Falls, has been cited for underage consumption in the same incident.

The complaint states that Cockle Janicke allegedly told officers he was trying to have as much fun as possible before serving a 30-day jail sentence in a Roseau County case. He was on probation in that case.

Officials Remind Drivers About DWI Laws

Minnesota officials urge drivers to plan a sober ride and avoid driving after drinking. They note that high blood alcohol levels increase crash risk.

More information on state DWI laws and penalties is available from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety.

National drunk driving statistics and safety tips can be found through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Court dates in the Thief River Falls case had not been released in public records at the time of this report.

I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.