On January 11, 2026, at approximately 12:36 pm, Deputy Cody Ploetz of the Itasca County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to the vicinity of [ADDRESS REDACTED], Cohasset, Itasca County, in regard to a reported vehicle in the ditch. Dispatch advised that the driver was Shari Ann Keller and that her driving privileges were canceled as inimical to public safety. Upon arrival at the scene, Deputy Ploetz observed a red car in the ditch. He began photographing the scene. Said deputy observed several mailboxes and loose mail in the snow in the ditch.
Said deputy spoke with Deputy Derek Hanson who stated that he had just obtained a PBT from Keller, registering 0.174% BAC. Deputy Hanson further advised that he had attempted field sobriety tests with Keller, in which he displayed clues of impairment. A witness at the scene, A. K. B., stated that he had been in his residence when he heard a loud bang and saw the car go into the ditch. He stated that he observed a female occupant exit the vehicle and stumble around. He stated that his mailbox had been hit by the car.
He stated that she had asked him for a ride somewhere. Deputy Hanson advised Deputy Ploetz that he would transport Keller to the Itasca County Jail, since he was a DMT operator. After Keller was cleared for jail by the ambulance crew at the scene, Deputy Hanson advised Keller that she was under arrest. While standing next to her, he could smell the odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from her person. She was escorted to his squad and transported to the Itasca County Jail. At the jail, Deputy Hanson reviewed Keller's criminal history and observed that she had what he believed to be a prior felony DWI conviction.
Deputy Hanson then elected to draft a search warrant for a blood or urine sample from Keller. The search warrant was signed by the Honorable Kimberly Wimmer. After being shown a copy of the search warrant and being notified that failure to take a test would be an additional crime, Keller agreed to provide a urine sample. At approximately 2:25 pm, registered nurse, K. H., collected a urine sample which will be submitted to the BCA for testing. Deputy Ploetz later received a phone call from Deputy Hanson who had spoken with the registered owner of the vehicle, E. D. B., who stated that he had not given Keller permission to drive his vehicle.
After providing the urine sample, Keller was transported to the Itasca County Jail where Deputy Ploetz 3 ••-CR-••-•••• Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 1/13/2026 read her the Miranda advisory. She agreed to speak with him. She stated that she had consumed a couple sixteen (16) ounce cans of Coors Light, then took her dog for a drive from her residence in Cohasset. She stated that after stopping at Dollar General, her dog jumped out of the car. She stated that when she looked up, she was in the wrong lane of travel and did not have time to get back into the proper lane.
