On May 24, 2026 at approximately 8:45 P.M., Austin Police Department Officer Mark Tamke was on routine patrol traveling north on 4th Street NW in the City of Austin, County of Mower. Officer Tamke observed a white, 2000 Toyota Corolla, bearing MN license plate [PLATE REDACTED], traveling southbound in the 1700 block of 4th Street NW. Officer Tamke believed the Corolla was driving higher than the 30 m.p.h. Posted speed limit and activated his radar. Officer Tamke’s radar indicated the Corolla was traveling at 39 m.p.h. Officer Tamke turned around, and while catching up to the Corolla, the radar indicated the Corolla was now driving at 41 m.p.h. Officer Tamke also observed the vehicle cross the center line.
Officer Tamke caught up to the Corolla and initiated a traffic stop. The Corolla was slow to stop and eventually pulled over in the 1200 block of 6th Street NW. Officer Tamke made contact with the driver and sole occupant of the Corolla, identified as RODRIGO MORALES CALDERON, [DOB REDACTED], hereinafter the defendant, and informed him of the reason for the stop. Officer Tamke smelled the odor of an alcoholic beverage and noted the defendant did not want to look at him while they were speaking. Officer Tamke asked the defendant to look at him, and Officer Tamke observed the defendant’s eyes were bloodshot and watery.
Officer Tamke asked the defendant how much he had to drink, and the defendant told him he had “a few Bud Lights.” Officer Tamke asked the defendant to step out of his vehicle, and Officer Tamke now noticed an overwhelming smell of alcoholic beverages. Officer Tamke asked the defendant if he would be willing to perform some tests to make sure he should be driving, and the defendant agreed but said his left leg hurt a lot so he would not be able to do walking or standing tests. Officer Tamke had the defendant perform the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test, and he agreed.
Officer Tamke observed multiple clues and noted the defendant would stop following his finger when reaching maximum deviation and look back at Officer Tamke (failed). Officer Tamke then administered the Preliminary Breath Test; the defendant failed. Officer Tamke then placed the defendant under arrest on suspicion of driving while impaired and transported him to the Mower County Jail. At the jail, Officer Tamke read the defendant the Minnesota Breath Test Advisory, and the defendant asked to speak with an attorney.
The defendant spoke with an attorney and then agreed to take a breath test. Austin Police Department Officer Damien Schroeder arrived at the jail and operated the DMT. The defendant provided two sufficient samples, resulting in a final value of 0.18 BAC at 9:47 P.M. A review of the defendant’s criminal history shows a prior driving while impaired conviction dated August 28, 2017 (Mower County District Court file number ••-CR-••-••••).
