A Frost man who drove without a license and was allegedly drunk was arrested after visiting a friend in the Faribault County Jail.
And, county authorities weren’t involved in taking 52-year-old Edwin John Haler into custody Monday night in the parking lot. It was a Blue Earth police officer.
“Dispatch notified the Blue Earth Police Department of the issue because both deputies were on calls out of the Blue Earth area,” says Chief Deputy Scott Adams.
Haler was charged Wednesday in Faribault County District Court with gross misdemeanor counts of second-degree DWI and driving after license cancellation.
He also faces misdemeanor charges of operating a motor vehicle without an ignition interlock and a non-alcohol/controlled substance violation.
According to a court complaint, Haler was visiting a friend when someone who knew his license was revoked called Blue Earth police.
The police officer reportedly waited until Haler left and got behind the wheel before he initiated a traffic stop while he was still in the parking lot.
When speaking with Haler about not having a license, says the complaint, the officer noticed the smell of alcohol and that Haler’s eyes were bloodshot an his speech slightly slurred.
Haler reportedly admitted drinking beer and whiskey before driving to the jail. A preliminary breathalyzer showed he had a alcohol level of 0.08.
Official tests later at the jail indicated a concentration level of 0.06, but Haler agreed with the officer he was likely over the legal limit of 0.08 when he drove to the jail.
Haler has prior DWI convictions in 2016 and 2018 and cannot get his license back unless he installs an alcohol-monitoring device in his vehicle.
During a court hearing Wednesday, cash bail was set at $750 with conditions; or a bond at $7,500 with conditions; or a $12,000 bond without conditions.
His next court appearance is an omnibus hearing scheduled for Aug. 16.