EAST BETHEL, Minn. – (Jan. 19, 2017) – A man claiming to be a designated driver has been charged with three counts of criminal vehicular operation. Charles Stelzner told police that he was a designated driver for a group of friends that spent a evening drinking at an East Bethel bar.
After leaving the bar, Stelzner crashed the vehicle he was driving and several passengers suffered injuries in the crash. Stelzner told police that he was the group’s designated driver, but also admitted that he had consumed four beers and two shots in the previous three and a half hours.
Police conducted a portable breath test and Stelzner blew 0.146. The injuries to the passengers included a severely broken leg, neck & back injuries, a fractured cheek bone, a broken nose and several lacerations.
Stelzner could receive up to 15 years in prison for his alleged actions.
