Suspected Drunk Driver Accused of Smashing into Cars at Rochester Restaurant
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office arrested a suspected drunk driver accused of smashing into multiple vehicles parked at a Rochester bar and restaurant Thursday night.
Rochester Police Captain Casey Moilanen said officers were dispatched to Roosters Barn and Grill on Superior Dr. Northwest shortly after 10:30 p.m. Restaurant patrons reported an intoxicated man left the establishment and struck three cars as he drove out of the parking lot.
Moilanen said a citizen followed the suspect vehicle for a short distance and reported it was heading west on Valleyhigh Dr. Northwest. Olmsted County Sheriff’s Captain Tim Parkin said deputies found the vehicle and stopped it on Valleyhigh near the intersection with County Rd. 103 north of Byron.
The deputy reported the driver, identified as 31-year-old Nicholas Loomis of Dodge Center, displayed signs of impairment. Parkin said Loomis failed field sobriety testing and that a preliminary breath test at the scene indicated his blood-alcohol content was nearly three times over the legal limit.
A test of Loomis’s blood-alcohol content at the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center came back with a 0.19 result. Parkin said the sheriff’s office is recommending Loomis be charged with 3rd-degree DWI and other traffic violations.
Moilanen said police are investigating the crash and could refer charges for hit and run. He said no one was inside of the three cars that Loomis allegedly struck as he left Roosters.
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