A recently hired recruit to the Minneapolis Police Department is facing DWI and weapons charges after reportedly driving his vehicle into a lake while intoxicated earlier this month.
Luke David Tungseth, 39, of Blaine, was charged last week in Crow Wing County District Court with one gross misdemeanor count of DWI with a blood-alcohol content over .16 and one misdemeanor count of carrying a pistol while under the influence of alcohol.
Charges say Crow Wing County deputies were dispatched on Friday, Oct. 17, at about 8:40 p.m. to a location in Emily, Minn., on a rollover crash where they found Tungseth being checked on by EMS and a Chevy Silverado pickup truck in the lake.
Tungseth was cleared by medical personnel, who told the responding deputy that Tungseth may be under the influence of alcohol.
Upon interacting with Tungseth, the deputy detected numerous signs of alcohol use such as slurred speech, poor balance, bloodshot watery eyes, and the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage, charges say. The deputy asked Tungseth how much he had to drink, and Tungseth responded with “two beers,” and stated that he had consumed 12-ounce IPA “Voodoo Rangers.” Tungseth communicated that he’d been traveling from his residence in Blaine to his in-laws’ cabin, which was west of the crash scene. Tungseth had attempted to negotiate a curve in the road and lost control of the vehicle.
A preliminary breath test sample resulted in a breath-alcohol content of .194, and a later blood-alcohol content sample registered a result of .200, well over twice the legal limit to drive in Minnesota, which is .08.
A subsequent search of Tungseth’s vehicle recovered “numerous” firearms, including a handgun in the front passenger side of the vehicle. A confidential source told Crime Watch Minneapolis that the firearm was Tungseth’s duty pistol, but that information is not detailed in the complaint. A cased rifle was located in the rear seat passenger compartment, and another handgun was located in the bed of the vehicle.
Tungseth has at least two prior DWI convictions between September 2012 and August 2015, according to court records. The latter conviction in Anoka County involved a guilty plea to driving with a BAC of .20 or more, according to court records.
A license search on the state Board of Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) website indicates that Tungseth is still employed with MPD and that no disciplinary actions have been initiated by the POST Board.
However, MPD said in a statement that Tungseth’s first day of employment was Oct. 6 and his last day of employment was Oct. 20.
“Luke Tungseth was not a sworn MPD Officer. Luke Tungseth was a Police Recruit in the Minneapolis Police Academy,” the department said.
Tungseth is out of custody on $12,000 bail and is scheduled for his next court appearance on Nov. 18.
This article was updated with a statement from the Minneapolis Police Department.
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Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
Crime Watch MN
Minnesota Crime Watch & Information publishes news, info and commentary about crime, public safety and livability issues in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota.
