On January 29, 2026, at approximately 9:44 A.M., Officer Nicholas Salvevold of the Breezy Point Police Department was advised that a manager at the Pelican Square Gas Station/Liquor Store, MW (fully identified in the police reports), was reporting a possible impaired driver. MW reported that an adult male who appeared to be intoxicated entered the liquor store to purchase alcohol but did not have his wallet. MW advised that the male had left and was attempting to drive away in a grey Jeep bearing Minnesota License Plate [PLATE REDACTED] with the parking brake on.
MW reported that he wouldn't have sold the male alcohol anyway because he was unsteady on his feet and appeared to be impaired by something. MW advised that the male was still attempting to drive away with his parking brake engaged. A check of the vehicle's registration showed that it was registered to Joseph Lee Forte [DOB REDACTED]. Officer Salvevold arrived at approximately 9:49 A.M. And observed that the subject vehicle was parked in the middle of the parking lot between designated parking spaces and the gas pumps.
The vehicle was not parked in a designated parking space and was blocking the routine path that vehicles normally drive in. Officer Salvevold observed the vehicle shift into gear, moving forward slightly before stopping. The vehicle's rear tires were observed to be locked in place, likely due to the parking brake being engaged. As Officer Salvevold drove towards the vehicle, it began spinning its front tires with its rear tires still locked in place. The vehicle was able to move a short distance, dragging its rear tires until it stopped near a gas pump.
The subject vehicle was verified as a silver Jeep Renegade Bearing Minnesota License plate [PLATE REDACTED]. The vehicle was observed to be occupied by one male driver. Based on MW's reported behavior of the driver, the vehicle's unusual parking location, and the driver's attempts to drive away with the parking brake engaged for several minutes, Officer Salvevold suspected that the driver was impaired. Officer Salvevold activated his emergency lights to stop the vehicle. Officer Salvevold approached the vehicle on the driver's side and recognized the driver as Forte.
Officer Salvevold noted that Forte did not put the vehicle all the way into park, but was in reverse. Forte was instructed to place the vehicle in park. Officer Salvevold asked Forte if he was aware that he was attempting to drive with his parking brake engaged. Forte advised, "Well, I don't think so." Forte looked around the center console area of his vehicle and appeared to be trying to find the parking brake but was unable to do so. Officer Salvevold observed that Forte had bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, and appeared disoriented when trying to operate the vehicle's shifter and while attempting to locate the parking brake.
