DWI Suspect Accused of Assaulting Rochester Police Officer After Crash

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A Twin Cities man is facing charges following a crash over the weekend in Rochester. 

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The criminal complaint, filed in Olmsted County Court on Monday, says the motorist assaulted an officer who attempted to arrest him for impaired driving. 

Rochester police responded to the crash shortly before 10:30 Saturday night. 

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55-year-old James Scott Donald Champion is charged with felony fourth-degree assault of a peace officer, two gross misdemeanor DWI counts and a gross misdemeanor obstruction count. 

St. Paul Man Accused of Assaulting Rochester Police Officer After Crash on North Broadway

Officers responded to the single-vehicle crash in the 2800 block of North Broadway Ave. Preliminary reports indicated the driver was suspected of being impaired. 

The first officer to arrive found the vehicle Champion was driving in the east ditch on the east side of the roadway facing south.

Champion was still in the vehicle, which was still running, the complaint says. 

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The responding officer opened the driver’s side door and immediately smelled the odor of alcohol, the charges say.

Champion, who the complaint says was showing signs of impairment, said he was in the parking lot of the Purple Goat restaurant and suddenly ended up in the ditch.

Champion got out of the vehicle and refused field sobriety testing and a breath test, the charges say. The St. Paul man then got back into his vehicle and tried to close the door but an officer held it open. 

Officer Bitten During Arrest of Impaired Driving Suspect

An officer had a hold Champion’s left wrist in an attempt to bring him into custody. Champion then pulled the officer's arm towards him and bit the officer’s hand, the complaint says. 

Police eventually pulled Champion off the officer and took him into custody. The bite did not break the officer’s skin but left red marks on the officer’s hand, the complaint says. 

While being transported to the jail, Champion made multiple threatening statements. Champion refused to take a breath test once he was brought to the Olmsted County Jail, the court document alleges. 

Prior OWI Conviction

Court records indicate Champion was convicted of Operating While Intoxicated in Iowa in February of 2023. 

Champion was released without bail following his first court appearance on Monday. He is due back in court next month.