On April 15, 2026, at approximately 3:42am, Deputy Steven Clayton of the Chisago County Sheriff's Office observed a vehicle fail to stop for a stop sign in the area of S Bremer Ave and W 4th Street in Rush City, Chisago County, Minnesota. Deputy Clayton visually estimated that the vehicle drove through the stop sign at approximately 30 mph and subsequently appeared to be accelerating at a high rate of speed. As Deputy Clayton attempted to catch up, he noted the vehicle's tires cross the fog line and estimated the vehicle to be traveling through building fog with limited visibility at roughly 100 mph.
Deputy Clayton activated his emergency lights and initiated a traffic stop, confirming the vehicle's speed at 89-90 mph in a 55-mph zone. Deputy Clayton made contact with the driver, ultimately identified as ANDRE ANSEL RICHARD KOEHLER, [DOB REDACTED] ("Defendant" herein). Deputy Clayton noted Defendant had slurred speech and that he appeared fidgety and dazed, moving things around inside the vehicle for no apparent reason. While speaking with Deputy Clayton, Defendant admitted to having a THC vape pen under his leg and admitted that he had smoked THC approximately an hour and a half prior.
Throughout the interaction, Defendant appeared confused, and at one point was unable to accurately provide his own name and date of birth. At Deputy Clayton's direction, Defendant exited the vehicle to complete standardized field sobriety testing. In closer proximity, Deputy Clayton could smell the odor of alcoholic beverage coming from Defendant's person. During the testing, Deputy Clayton observed clues indicative of a high level of intoxication, including a preliminary breath test sample with a reading of 0.149 BAC. Defendant was ultimately placed under arrest and transported to Fairview Lakes Hospital for a blood draw.
Deputy Clayton obtained a search warrant for a sample of Defendant's blood, which was signed by the Hon. Jesse Seabrooks at 5:45am. Defendant agreed to provide a blood sample, which was drawn at 6:09am. Th sample was sealed in an evidentiary kit and sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for testing; results of the blood draw are pending at this time. Following Defendant's arrest, an inventory search of the vehicle was conducted. During the search, a small clear bag containing a white powdery substance was located on the driver's seat.
Deputies further observed white powder residue covering the shifter area, and a clump of the white substance on a receipt located behind the shifter. The substance field tested positive for cocaine and weighed in at a total of 0.44 grams.
