UPDATE: Bluestem has more in Matt Grossell DWI update: implied consent hearing petition filed & more from MCRO. An implied consent petition in a DWI case asks the court to void a citation on a claim that the rights of the person charged were violated. Read the petition in the new post to see the claims made in this case. [end update]
In early May 2019, Bluestem posted In more sober moments than Saturday morning, lawmaker has more respect for hospital staff:
By now, news of the early Saturday morning arrest of Clearwater Republican state representative and retired deputy sheriff Matt Grossell for trespassing has been tweeted mercilessly since Deanna Weiniger and Dave Orrick scooped the story for the Pioneer Press.
It was a sad episode for the Republican lawmaker, though as Forum News Service's Sarah Horner reported in June 27, Northern Minnesota lawmaker can avoid conviction through diversion program:
. . . Diversion was the ideal outcome for Grossell, his attorney said.
“Rep. Grossell is pleased that all charges will be completely dismissed in five months and he looks forward to doing public service in his community,” Garry wrote in an email.
Hotel security called St. Paul police about 1 a.m. this past May to the Best Western Plus Capitol Ridge, which is near the state Capitol, after a report of an intoxicated man acting disorderly in the bar.
Sadly, Grossel has not lived up to that redemption.
At Minnesota Public Radio, Brian Bakst reports in Minnesota Rep. Grossell cited for DWI:
A Republican state lawmaker with a previous run-in related to alcohol was cited last week on drinking and driving charges.
Fourth-term Rep. Matt Grossell was stopped not far from his home in Clearwater County by the State Patrol in the early morning hours of Feb. 11. An incident report says he submitted to a blood alcohol test and was found to be at .15 percent – almost twice the legal limit for driving.
Grossell faces misdemeanor DWI charges. It’s not the first time he’s had an alcohol-related legal issue.
In 2019, Grossell was arrested and cited for disorderly conduct and trespassing after becoming unruly at a hotel bar near the Capitol. He was accused of threatening security personnel who responded and staff at a nearby hospital.
Grossell, a retired Clearwater County sheriff’s deputy and former Blackduck police chief, agreed to enter a court diversion program and was not convicted. He was removed from the House public safety and judiciary committees as a result. . . . .
According to Grossell's official page on the Minnesota Legislature's website, he again serves on the House Judiciary Finance and Civil Law and Public Safety Finance and Policy committees, as well as the Capital Investment committee.
We'll have to check to see if he carries on about DFLers being soft on crime.
A request to the State Patrol for more information on the stop, which occurred around 2:30 a.m. last Saturday, didn’t get an immediate response.
He was released pending charges, his attorney said. Grossell was on the House floor for votes this week.
Alcohol abuse is a terrible thing, though Bluestem has no sympathy for those who drive drunk.
Grossell was most recently featured in Bluestem posts in 2020 when we asked Was Minnesota state representative Matt Grossell out with vigilantes during Bemidji curfew? Bemidji was under a curfew following protests that erupted across the state, nation and world following the murder of George Floyd.
Bluestem reported in Snipe hunt of war: Grossell spent night out with patriot buds waiting for phantom buses :
We noticed while reading the press release from Beltrami County Sheriff Ernie Beitel, embedded in our post, Beltrami Co. Sheriff addresses rumors and misinformation; Grossell presence confirmed, that "law enforcement had received information that buses of protestors were coming to Bemidji. . ." (bottom paragraph of page 1).
They're also mentioned in Forum Communications staffer Hannah Olson's story, Rumors swirl around Minnesota state rep taking part in citizen patrol during Floyd protest in Bemidji:
The sheriff said his office also received information that buses filled with protestors were headed to Bemidji, so when Grossell called him, Beitel said "I intentionally directed him outside the city limits to watch for buses that may be coming into Bemidji and report his observations to law enforcement. Unfortunately, a miscommunication resulted in some of the citizens placed in fringe locations around the city of Bemidji.” . . .
Ah yes. The great Antifa Bus Snipe Hunt.
Related posts
- State DFL responds to Matt Grossell Facebook post
- In early morning Facebook post, Matt Grossell frets about alter agenda coordinated attack
- Snipe hunt of war: Grossell spent night out with patriot buds waiting for phantom buses.
- Beltrami Co. Sheriff addresses rumors and misinformation; Grossell presence confirmed
- Was Minnesota state representative Matt Grossell out with vigilantes during Bemidji curfew?
- Minnesota state representative Matt Grossell may not want any more Muslim colleagues elected
Photo: From the Pioneer Press, Grossell front and center during the Pledge of Allegiance on opening day.
If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.
Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.
I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6
Comments