On November 1, 2025 at 0029 hours Officer Christenson was on routine patrol in the City of Rochester, Minnesota on 5th Street NW turning to head southbound on Broadway Avenue when he observed a silver Malibu turning off Broadway Ave. Onto 5th Avenue. The driver very clearly had his phone up to his left ear as he turned the corner. Officer Christenson turned around and activated his emergency lights to make a traffic stop. The vehicle pulled into the parking lot at The North Star just behind the back door and stopped.
Officer Christenson made contact with the driver and advised him of the reason for the stop. The driver was identified as STEVEN FRED RONNING, [DOB REDACTED]. Ronning stated that he had been talking to his roommate who he was going to pick up. Officer Christenson asked Ronning what his [DL# REDACTED] was, and Ronning stated that he had to pay a reinstatement fee. Ronning stated that he had originally lost his license due to a DUI. Officer Christenson observed Ronning to have bloodshot watery/glassy eyes.
Officer Christenson could also smell the odor of alcohol while standing outside the vehicle but was not sure if the smell was emitting from Ronning or the bar where numerous people were standing around. Officer Christenson returned to his squad and using his MCT determined that Ronning's driving status was DAC-IPS. Officer Christenson returned to the vehicle and asked Ronning to step out advising him he was under arrest for DAC-IPS. While transporting Ronning to the ADC Officer Christenson could smell the odor of alcohol emitting from inside the squad car.
Officer Christenson also observed that Ronning had a alcohol restriction on his driver's license. Officer Christenson read Ronning the Miranda Warning at the ADC and Ronning agreed to speak with the officer. Ronning stated that he had one cocktail before leaving his house which was ten minutes prior to the stop. Ronning agreed to a PBT which registered a result of.136. While waiting for the PBT result Ronning stated that he had also been drinking last night and finished drinking early this morning.
Officer Christenson read Ronning the Breath Test Advisory and Ronning chose not to contact an attorney and agreed to a breath test. The DMT delivered a result of.12 alcohol concentration at 0115 hours. Ronning's driving status is DAC-IPS. Ronning has a restriction on his driver's license that prohibits any use of alcohol. Ronning has two prior felony DUI convictions in Minnesota, as follows: Felony First Degree DUI conviction 3 ••-CR-••-•••• Filed in District Court State of Minnesota 11/3/2025 with a disposition date of 6/15/16, Court File # 65-CR-16-63; Felony First Degree DUI conviction with a disposition date of 6/13/11, 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.
