StateofMinnesota DistrictCourt

CountyofSherburne 10thJudicialDistrict
ProsecutorFileNo. 197405
CourtFileNo. 71-CR-17-1325

StateofMinnesota, COMPLAINT
Plaintiff, OrderofDetention
vs.
ROBERTALLENJOHNSONDOB:09/18/1953
261793rdStW
Zimmerman,MN55398
Defendant.

The Complainant submits this complaint to the Court and states that there is probable cause to believe
Defendantcommittedthefollowingoffense(s):
COUNTI
Charge:CriminalVehicularOperation-GreatBodilyHarm-UnderInfluenceAlcohol
MinnesotaStatute:609.2113.1(2)(i),withreferenceto:609.2113.1
MaximumSentence:5YearsImprisonmentand/or$10,000Fine
OffenseLevel:Felony
OffenseDate(onorabout):09/11/2017
Control#(ICR#):17023171
Charge Description: That on or about 9/11/2017, in Sherburne County, Minnesota, the defendant, Robert
Allen Johnson, DOB: 9/18/1953 (63), did cause great bodily harm to another, to wit: DE, not constituting
attempted murder or assault as a result of operating a motor vehicle in a negligent manner while under
theinfluenceofalcohol.
COUNTII
Charge:CriminalVehicularOperation-GreatBodilyHarm-UnderInfluenceAlcohol
MinnesotaStatute:609.2113.1(2)(i),withreferenceto:609.2113.1
MaximumSentence:5YearsImprisonmentand/or$10,000Fine
OffenseLevel:Felony
OffenseDate(onorabout):09/11/2017
Control#(ICR#):17023171
Charge Description: That on or about 9/11/2017, in Sherburne County, Minnesota, the defendant, Robert
Allen Johnson, DOB: 9/18/1953 (63), did cause great bodily harm to another, to wit: KM, not constituting
attempted murder or assault as a result of operating a motor vehicle in a negligent manner while under
theinfluenceofalcohol.
COUNTIII

1
Charge:CriminalVehicularOperation-SubstantialBodilyHarm-UnderInfluenceAlcohol
MinnesotaStatute:609.2113.2(2)(i),withreferenceto:609.2113.2
MaximumSentence:3YearsImprisonmentand/or$10,000Fine
OffenseLevel:Felony
OffenseDate(onorabout):09/11/2017
Control#(ICR#):17023171
Charge Description: That on or about 9/11/2017, in Sherburne County, Minnesota, the defendant, Robert
Allen Johnson, DOB: 9/18/1953 (63), did cause substantial bodily harm to another, to wit: MM, as a
resultofoperatingamotorvehicleinanegligentmannerwhileundertheinfluenceofalcohol.
COUNTIV
Charge:CriminalVehicularOperation-BodilyHarm-UnderInfluenceAlcohol
MinnesotaStatute:609.2113.3(2)(i),withreferenceto:609.2113.3
MaximumSentence:1YearinJailand/or$3000Fine
OffenseLevel:GrossMisdemeanor
OffenseDate(onorabout):09/11/2017
Control#(ICR#):17023171
Charge Description: That on or about 9/11/2017, in Sherburne County, Minnesota, the defendant, Robert
Allen Johnson, DOB: 9/18/1953 (63), did cause bodily harm to another, to wit: SS, as a result of
operatingamotorvehicleinanegligentmannerwhileundertheinfluenceofalcohol.
COUNTV
Charge:Traffic-DWI-OperateMotorVehicleUnderInfluenceofAlcohol
MinnesotaStatute:169A.20.1(1),withreferenceto:169A.27.2
MaximumSentence:90daysinJailand/or$1,000Fine
OffenseLevel:Misdemeanor
OffenseDate(onorabout):09/11/2017
Control#(ICR#):17023171
Charge Description: FOURTH DEGREE DWI: That on or about 9/11/2017, in Sherburne County,
Minnesota, the defendant, Robert Allen Johnson, DOB: 9/18/1953 (63), did drive, operate, or was in
physicalcontrolofamotorvehiclewhileundertheinfluenceofalcohol.

2
 STATEMENTOFPROBABLECAUSE

YourComplainantisanofficerwiththeSherburneCountySheriff'sOffice.InthiscapacityyourComplainant
believesthefollowingtobetrueandcorrect.

OnSeptember11,2017atapproximately1:06p.m.,lawenforcementwasdispatchedtoReliantSystems
locatedat12641FremontAvenueNWinZimmerman,SherburneCounty,Minnesota,onareportofa
motorvehiclecrash.Dispatchadvisedthevehiclehadcrashedintothebuildingandtherewereseveral
peopleinjured.

LawenforcementarrivedatthesceneandobservedaholeinthewestwalloftheReliantSystemsbuilding.
DeputyEthanenteredthebuildingtoprovidemedicalassistanceandobservedaredTahoebearing
Minnesotalicense943WUKabout30-40feetinsidethebuilding.DeputyEthanmadecontactwiththe
driveroftheTahoe,whowasstillseatedinthevehicle.HewasfullyidentifiedbyMinnesotadriverslicense
asROBERTALLENJOHNSON,DOB9/18/53,defendantherein.Whilespeakingwiththedefendant,
DeputyEthanobservedthedefendantseyeswerebloodshotandwatery.DeputyEthanalsodetectedan
odorofalcoholcomingfrominsidethevehicleaswellasonthedefendantsbreath.Thedefendant
providedaPBTof.103.Thedefendantusedacaneasheexitedthevehicle.DeputyEthanappliedfora
searchwarranttoobtainablooddrawfromthedefendant.Thesearchwarrantwassignedbythe
HonorableSheridanHawleyandexecutedattheFairviewPrincetonHospital.Thedefendantsblood
samplewastakenintoevidenceandwillbesubmittedforfurtheranalysis.

WhilespeakingwithDeputyEthan,thedefendantadmittedconsumingatleasttwoalcoholicbeverages
beforeleavingtheAmericanLegion.HestatedhewasdrivingonFremontAvenueandhisaccelerator
stuck.Hestatedhedidnotrememberanythinguntilhewasinsidethebuilding.

Lawenforcementspokewithseveralwitnesses.WitnessSMreportedshehadbeenbehindthe
defendantsvehicleatthestopsignfacingnorthonwestThirdStreet.Shestatedthedefendantsvehicle
turnedrightandsheturnedleft.Thedefendantsvehiclesuddenlyacceleratedandcrossedthegrassand
jumpedthecurb.Sheheardaloudcrash.WitnessASwasstandingnearhismotorcycleparkedon
FremontAvenuewhenheobservedthedefendantsvehiclesuddenlyspeedupandgooverthecurb.He
andanotherwitnesshadtomoveoutofthewaytoavoidbeingstruck.WitnessLOwasinsidethebackof
thebuildingwhenheheardthecrash.Herantothesiteofthecrashandmadecontactwiththedefendant
whotoldhimyoureluckyandaskedhimwhathappened.LOstatedthedefendantstillhadtheaccelerator
pushedtothefloor.LOreachedinandshutofftheTahoeandtoldthedefendanttoremaininsidehis
vehicle.LOproceededtoassistotherswhowereinjured.

Whiledocumentingthescene,InvestigatorJeanettaphysicallypusheddownandupontheTahoes
acceleratorandbrakeandbothappearedtobeworkingproperly.SergeantJohnsonsearchedtheTahoe
andlocatedamostlyemptybottleofwhiskeyinthecenterconsole.

StaffattheAmericanLegionreportedthedefendanthadarrivedaround11:15a.m.andhadconsumed3
shortglassesofwhiskeyand7-Up.

Inapost-Mirandastatement,thedefendantadmittedarrivingattheAmericanLegionaround11:15a.m.He
statedheconsumed2whiskeyand7-Updrinks.HestatedthatoncehewasonFremontStreethis
acceleratorstuckandthenextthingheknewhewasinsidethebuilding.Thedefendantstatedhedidnot
havepreviousissueswiththeacceleratorbutstatedthebrakesdidnotworkverywell.

Twopeoplewereairliftedfromthesceneandtwoothersweretransportedbyambulancefortreatmentof
3
theirinjuriesatNorthMemorial.InvestigatorMorklearnedthefollowingfromhospitalstaff:

DE,anadultmalewhohadbeenlocatedbylawenforcementwithhisheadunderneaththefrontdrivers
sidetireoftheTahoe,appearedunconsciousatthescene.Hewasplacedoncriticalconditionstatuson
hisarrivalatthehospitalandiscurrentlyonlifesupport.Heisnotexpectedtosurviveduetotheextentof
hisinjuries.

KM,anadultfemale,isalsolistedincriticalconditionandisonlifesupport.Shehasinternaltraumaasa
resultofthecrashandhadherspleenandpartofherpancreasremovedatthehospital.

MM,anadultmale,isalsolistedincriticalcondition.Hesufferedsevenbrokenbonesinhisspineasa
resultofthecrash.Inaddition,hehasbruisingofthespine,multiplefacialfractures,andribfractures.

SS,anadultfemale,alsoreceivedmedicaltreatmentandreceivedbruisingandpaininhersideasaresult
ofthecrash.

PLEASETAKENOTICE:PursuanttoMinn.Stat.609.49.,intentionalfailuretoappearfordulyscheduled
courtappearancesmayresultinadditionalcriminalcharges,andinadditiontoanyarrestwarrantthatmay
otherwisebeissuedbytheCourt.

4
 SIGNATURESANDAPPROVALS

ComplainantrequeststhatDefendant,subjecttobailorconditionsofrelease,be:
(1)arrestedorthatotherlawfulstepsbetakentoobtainDefendant'sappearanceincourtor
(2)detained,ifalreadyincustody,pendingfurtherproceedingsandthatsaidDefendantotherwise
bedealtwithaccordingtolaw.
Complainantdeclaresunderpenaltyofperjurythateverythingstatedinthisdocumentistrueand
correct.Minn.Stat.358.116Minn.R.Crim.P.2.01,subds.1,2.

Complainant BenZawacki ElectronicallySigned:

PatrolSergeant 09/13/201709:21AM
13880BusinessCenterDrive SherburneCounty,Minnesota
ElkRiver,MN55330-1692
Badge:3519

Beingauthorizedtoprosecutetheoffensescharged,Iapprovethiscomplaint.

ProsecutingAttorney DawnNyhus ElectronicallySigned:

AssistantSherburneCounty 09/13/201709:18AM
Attorney
13880BusinessCenterDrive
ElkRiver,MN55330-4601
(763)765-4725

5
 FINDINGOFPROBABLECAUSE
From the above sworn facts, and any supporting affidavits or supplemental sworn testimony, I, the Issuing Officer, have
determined that probable cause exists to support, subject to bail or conditions of release where applicable, Defendants arrest
or other lawful steps be taken to obtain Defendants appearance in court, or Defendants detention, if already in custody,
pendingfurtherproceedings.Defendantisthereforechargedwiththeabove-statedoffense(s).

SUMMONS
THEREFOREYOU,THEDEFENDANT,ARESUMMONEDtoappearon___________,_____at_____AM/PM
beforetheabove-namedcourtat13880BusinessCenterDrive,ElkRiver,MN55330-1692toanswerthis
complaint.

IFYOUFAILTOAPPEARinresponsetothisSUMMONS,aWARRANTFORYOURARRESTshallbeissued.

WARRANT
To the Sheriff of the above-named county or other person authorized to execute this warrant: I order, in the name of the State
of Minnesota, that the Defendant be apprehended and arrested without delay and brought promptly before the court (if in
session), and if not, before a Judge or Judicial Officer of such court without unnecessary delay, and in any event not later than
36hoursafterthearrestorassoonassuchJudgeorJudicialOfficerisavailabletobedealtwithaccordingtolaw.

ExecuteinMNOnly ExecuteNationwide ExecuteinBorderStates

X ORDEROFDETENTION
Since the Defendant is already in custody, I order, subject to bail or conditions of release, that the Defendant continue to be
detainedpendingfurtherproceedings.

Bail:$
ConditionsofRelease:

Thiscomplaint,dulysubscribedandsworntoorsignedunderpenaltyofperjury,isissuedbytheundersignedJudicialOfficer
asofthefollowingdate:September13,2017.

JudicialOfficer SheridanHawley ElectronicallySigned:09/13/201710:04AM

DistrictCourtJudge

SworntestimonyhasbeengivenbeforetheJudicialOfficerbythefollowingwitnesses:

COUNTYOFSHERBURNE
STATEOFMINNESOTA

StateofMinnesota
Plaintiff LAWENFORCEMENTOFFICERRETURNOFSERVICE
IherebyCertifyandReturnthatIhaveservedacopyofthisOrderof
vs. DetentionupontheDefendanthereinnamed.
SignatureofAuthorizedServiceAgent:
RobertAllenJohnson
Defendant