On June 24, 2025, at approximately 7:28 P.M., while in the City of Duluth, St. Louis County, State of Minnesota, a Duluth Police Officer Walker responded to a call of a motor vehicle accident outside the Rustic Bar on Ramsey Street. Initial information was that there was a collision between a blue charger and a red jeep. The involved reporting party believed the driver of the jeep was intoxicated and had reentered the Rustic Bar. When Officer Walker arrived on scene, at approximately 7:45 P.M., Officer Aubart was speaking to the reporting party, identified as Damondtaye J. Gaines.
Officer Walker noticed Gaines’s vehicle had significant damage down the passenger side of his vehicle, a blue 2012 Dodge Charger. Officer Aubart advised Officer Walker the other party was an older white male wearing glasses and a NorthStar Ford shirt. Officer Walker entered The Rustic Bar and found the driver standing next to the door staring out a window. Officer had the driver, identified as CHARLES WILLIAM SHIPKA, [DOB REDACTED], the Defendant herein, step outside the bar so that they could get statement about his perspective of the crash.
The Defendant explained that he had been pulling out of his parking spot, in his Red 2006 Jeep Liberty bearing MN FBR847, next to Rustic Bar but as he pulled out his parking spot he struck a vehicle, a blue 2012 Dodge Charger bearing MN JAJ847, that was driving west on Ramsey Street. Officer Walker asked the Defendant for his driver's license and proof of insurance. The Defendant walked to his vehicle with an unsteady step. The Defendant used the back of his vehicle to balance as he walked to his driver’s side door.
When the Defendant opened the driver’s side door, a bell could be heard indicating the key was still in the vehicle's ignition. Officer Walker damage to the Defendant’s vehicle's driver side front corner The Defendant was observed to have breath with an odor of an alcoholic beverage, bloodshot watery eyes, slurred speech, and refused to perform field sobriety tests, including failing a PBT with a result of 0.151 BrAC. The Defendant was placed under arrest for driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.
Upon being read the Breath Test Advisory, and after being advised of the right to speak to an attorney, the Defendant consented to take the offered breath test. The Defendant's alcohol concentration was 0.16 g/210L at 8:47 P.M.
