On April 16, 2026, at approximately 2042 hours, law enforcement was on patrol in Robbinsdale, Hennepin County, Minnesota, when they observed a Ford pickup truck driving without any headlights during nighttime hours. Law enforcement also observed the truck swerving and driving directly over the white dotted line in the middle of the two lanes of westbound travel. Law enforcement also observed the truck swerve to the right and cross the fog line. Law enforcement initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the driver and sole occupant of the truck who was identified via driver’s license as Christopher Ronald Hoff, [DOB redacted] (Defendant herein). While speaking to the Defendant law enforcement immediately observed the odor of a consumer alcoholic beverage coming from the Defendant’s breath.
Law enforcement also noticed the Defendant was heavily slurring his words. The Defendant told law enforcement his last drink was about an hour before the traffic stop and that he had been drinking vodka. Law enforcement asked the Defendant to exit the vehicle and the Defendant agreed to perform standardized field sobriety testing. During the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test the Defendant exhibited six out of six clues of impairment. During the Walk and Turn test the Defendant began the test before the instructions were finished, the Defendant failed to touch heel to toe on almost every step, he took the incorrect number of steps and kept walking, he did not count his steps out loud, and he made an improper turn.
Next the Defendant performed the one leg stand test where they lost their balance after six seconds and then again after seven seconds. The Defendant provided a preliminary breath test sample with a report value of 0.206 BAC. The Defendant was placed under arrest and was transported to the Robbinsdale Police Department jail. At the jail the Defendant was read the Minnesota Breath Test advisory. The Defendant also consulted with an attorney. The Defendant agreed to take the breath test and the Defendant’s breath test reported value was 0.22 BAC at 2150 hours.
The Defendant has the following three qualified prior impaired driving incidents within 10 years: 2nd Degree Driving While Impaired conviction dated 8/10/2020 in court file number 27-CR-20-12785; 2nd Degree Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol conviction dated 5/7/2018 in court file number 27-CR- 18-6257; and Prior Impaired driving-related loss of license dated 07/15/2017. The Defendant is in custody.
