On December 31, 2025, at approximately 4:17 PM, Officer Christenson with the Rochester Police Department was on routine patrol driving north on Broadway Avenue in Northwest Rochester, Olmsted County, Minnesota, when he observed a driver of a blue Chevrolet Silverado using his cell phone. Officer Christenson saw the driver holding the cell phone with his right hand and manipulating the screen while in the left turn lane. When the truck passed Officer Christenson, the driver was still using his cell phone.
Officer Christenson initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, BRYCE ALLEN SUESS, [DOB REDACTED], who apologized for his cell phone use. Suess was unable to provide Officer Christenson with his insurance information, stating it was in his other vehicle. Officer Christenson observed Suess had an ignition interlock restriction on his license, but the Silverado did not have an ignition interlock device installed. Suess stated he had a device on his other vehicle, but he was driving the Silverado because the tabs were expired on the other vehicle.
Officer Christenson advised Suess that the tabs were also expired on the Silverado. While speaking with Suess, Officer Christenson observed Suess to have dilated pupils with glassy eyes. Suess also had animated movements. Officer Christenson placed Suess under arrest for the ignition interlock violation. Officer Christenson also suspected Suess was impaired but chose to conduct Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) at the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center (ADC) due to the temperature and road conditions.
At the ADC, Suess provided a breath sample, which did not indicate the presence of alcohol. Officer Christenson observed no clues during the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus SFST. Suess displayed lack of convergence in both his left and right eyes during the Lack of Convergence SFST. Officer Christenson observed Suess to have a pulsing jugular artery, body tremors, and a one-inch side-to- side sway during the Modified Romberg SFST. During the Walk and Turn SFST, Officer Christenson observed 4 clues, and during the One Leg Stand SFST, Officer Christenson observed 3 clues.
Suess’s pulse was 80 Beats Per Minute (BPM). Based upon these additional signs of impairment, Officer Christenson obtained a search warrant for Suess’s blood or urine, and Suess provided a urine sample. The urine sample was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). The BCA tested the sample, and a March 2, 2026, BCA report indicated the presence of amphetamine in Suess's urine. Suess has the following qualified prior impaired driving incidents within the last 10 years: November 24, 2021, DWI conviction in Mower County Court File ••-CR-••-•••• February 9, 2024, DWI conviction in Olmsted County Court File ••-CR-••-•••• April 15, 2024, DWI conviction in Fillmore County Court File ••-CR-••-•••• PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: YOU MUST APPEAR FOR EVERY COURT HEARING REGARDING THIS CASE. FAILURE TO APPEAR FOR COURT IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE AND MAY RESULT IN ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL CHARGES BEING IMPOSED AND PUNISHED AS PROVIDED IN MINNESOTA STATUTES SECTION 609.49.
