At around 6:15 PM on January 5, 2026, Trooper Chit responded to a car that had crashed on Interstate 94 near Jackson Street, St. Paul, Ramsey County. Trooper Chit found a BMW 528 bearing Minnesota license plates RXB989 on the right shoulder. The BMW had moderate damage to its front passenger side. Tire tracks showed that the BMW went off the interstate and hit the concrete barrier. Trooper Chit made contact with the BMW’s driver, CEDRICK DEON HART [DOB REDACTED], and asked how Hart ended up against the concrete barrier.
Hart didn’t answer, but he slowly got out of the BMW. Hart’s jacket smelled of a faint odor of marijuana. Hart was very confused, disoriented, and off- balance. Hart’s eyes were bloodshot and watery, and his pupils were pinpoint. Hart was asked for his driver’s license, but he was never able to produce it due to his disorientation. Hart did not appear to comprehend anything Trooper Chit said to him. Hart denied he had crashed the BMW. Hart denied alcohol or drug use. Hart agreed to perform standardized field sobriety testing.
Hart fared poorly on the tests. Hart had eyelid flutters during the tests. Hart could not finish the finger to nose test as he did not understand it. Hart could not finish the modified Romberg test either. Hart provided a preliminary breath test that showed an alcohol concentration of 0.00. Trooper Chit arrested Hart for driving while impaired by a controlled substance. Trooper Chit obtained a search warrant to collect a blood or urine sample from Hart. A registered nurse drew blood from Hart. The blood will be sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for analysis.
Hart was belligerent and unpredictable throughout the entire interaction, so Trooper Chit did not attempt to take a custodial statement. On July 29, 2025, Hart was sentenced on a felony DWI in Hennepin County District Court file 27-CR-24- 1452. Hart is participating in DWI Court in Hennepin County. Hart had a cocaine metabolite and phencyclidine (PCP) in his blood. On October 29, 2025, Hart pleaded guilty to felony DWI in Ramsey County District Court file 62-CR-23- 2099. Hart had phencyclidine in his blood.
Hart’s sentencing on that case is scheduled for February 13, 2026. Hart’s driver’s license was revoked on February 16, 2023 as a result of that case. On January 6, 2026, a warrant was issued for Hart’s arrest in his Hennepin County case for failing to abstain from non-prescribed drugs or alcohol. On March 23, 2022, Hart’s driver’s license was revoked in conjunction with charges in Hennepin County District Court file ••-CR-••-••••. The case was dismissed as part of a plea agreement in 27-CR- 24-1452. On July 13, 2021, Hart’s driver’s license was revoked in conjunction with charges in Ramsey County District Court file 62SU-CR-21-1771. On December 14, 2018, Hart’s driver’s license was revoked in conjunction with charges in Ramsey County District Court file 62SU-CR-18-3851.
