(KNSI) – A 34-year-old Sanborn man is under arrest and facing several charges after police say he was drunk and in possession of a gun and a ballistic vest.
Wednesday afternoon, the Minnesota State Patrol was called to Highway 28 and Highway 71 in Sauk Centre for a driving complaint. According to the criminal complaint, the caller told police there was a black SUV that had been swerving all over the road. A trooper found the vehicle, parked there with the driver “bobbing his head up and down as if he was falling asleep.”
The trooper contacted the driver, who they identified as Tyler Duane Warren, and asked him to perform some field sobriety tests, to which he allegedly replied, “Nah,” said he knew his rights, and he was free to go. The criminal complaint says the trooper informed Warren that he was not free to go and was under arrest for driving under the influence.
Court papers say Warren handed over his license, got out of the SUV, and “almost fell due to his level of impairment.”
Warren was placed in the squad car, and a search of his vehicle allegedly turned up an uncased .223 caliber rifle that was converted to a pistol for deer hunting, which was sitting on top of a ballistics vest on the rear driver’s side passenger seat. Warren is not allowed to have a ballistic-resistant vest. Police say the gun’s loaded magazine was located on the front passenger seat. The criminal complaint says there was one empty and one full bottle of Fireball whiskey on the front passenger seat floorboard and several empty White Claw Cans.
They said Warren was read the Minnesota Breath Test Advisory, and he then requested attorney time. After 15 minutes had passed, investigators say Warren ignored suggestions to contact an attorney and then said he was done with his attorney time and submitted to a breath test about an hour and a half after his arrest. The criminal complaint says the breath test came back with a .26 blood alcohol level. In the State of Minnesota, it is illegal to carry a firearm on your person with a blood alcohol concentration of over .04 in any public place.
A search of court records showed Warren was convicted in Redwood County of carrying a pistol while under the influence in June of 2021, and as such, his permit to carry was revoked for one year. Police say an aftermarket coating of paint obscured the serial number on the gun Warren was carrying.
Warren has been charged with a firearms serial number violation, committing a crime while wearing or possessing a bullet-resistant vest, and carrying while under the influence of .10 or more, which are all felonies. He is also charged with carrying or possessing a gun without a permit in a public place, DWI, and DWI – operating a motor vehicle with an alcohol concentration of .08 within two hours, which are all gross misdemeanors.
Bail was set at $20,000 without conditions, and no bail was set for release with conditions.
His next court appearance is December 6th.
Jennifer Lewerenz contributed to this story.
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