Welcome to Arrest Stories. A sixty-seven-year-old Minnesota Court of Appeals judge was arrested on suspicion of driving while impaired after her vehicle became stuck in a snowbank on a major highway. Here's what may have happened.
On Saturday evening around nine thirteen p.m., a Steele County Sheriff's deputy responded to Highway Fourteen near the Interstate Thirty-Five overpass in Owatonna, Minnesota. Renee Lee Worke's vehicle was found stuck in a snowbank, facing eastbound on the south shoulder and presenting a road hazard.
When the deputy made contact with Worke, he observed several concerning signs. The sixty-seven-year-old judge had bloodshot and glossy eyes, along with slurred speech. The deputy detected an odor of alcohol coming from her breath and noted she had slow motor function. Worke appeared unsteady on her feet and required assistance walking back to the squad car.
During questioning, Worke told police she had been visiting friends in Waseca and claimed she had consumed one glass of wine approximately two hours prior to the incident. Despite this statement, her physical condition suggested a higher level of impairment to the responding officer.
The investigation continued with field sobriety testing, and at ten oh-two p.m., Worke took a breath test. The results showed her blood alcohol concentration was point one six, which is twice the legal limit of point zero eight in Minnesota.
Following the breath test results, Worke was transported to the Steele County Jail and booked on suspicion of driving while impaired. The Steele County Sheriff's Department processed her arrest and took her booking photo. She was released from custody the same day as her arrest.
The incident has drawn significant attention due to Worke's position as a Minnesota Court of Appeals judge, a role that involves interpreting and applying state law.
All suspects presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.