ST. PETER — A man is accused of being intoxicated when he crashed into a Department of Natural Resources’ squad vehicle in Nicollet County, causing injuries to an officer making a traffic stop along with another motorist.
Andrew John Seitzer, 45, of St. Peter, was charged with a felony and gross misdemeanor for criminal vehicular operation while under the influence of a controlled substance, felony and gross misdemeanor drug possession, gross misdemeanor DWI, gross misdemeanor child endangerment, misdemeanor possession of metal knuckles and misdemeanor failure to move over for an authorized vehicle Thursday in Nicollet County District Court.
A criminal complaint states the DNR officer suffered a broken rib and had injuries to his elbow and head, while the motorist who had been pulled over by the officer was hospitalized as well for evaluation.
Seitzer was unaffiliated with the traffic stop. Witnesses told police he was weaving over lane lines and speeding before the crash, then failed to move over before rear-ending the squad vehicle, which pushed into the other motorist’s vehicle.
Seitzer’s 1-year-old child was in his vehicle at the time, the complaint states. He told police he was reaching back to pick up a bottle for the child before the crash.
The complaint notes he had injured his hand and was bleeding from the mouth after the collision. No injuries to the child were noted in the complaint.
A State Patrol sergeant observed multiple signs of intoxication in Seitzer. Any intoxication was not from alcohol, according to a preliminary breath test’s 0.0 results.
The sergeant reported finding paraphernalia for narcotic and a baggie containing suspected cocaine in Seitzer’s pocket. There was also a jar containing suspected MDMA or ecstasy in the vehicle, along with brass knuckles, loaded magazines for a handgun and amphetamine.
A search warrant was used to draw blood from Seitzer, according to the complaint.