St. Paul officer faces DWI charges for off-duty crash into building

According to the new charges, an off-duty St. A St. Paul police officer was twice the legal limit when he drunkenly crashed into a building.

Bryan James McKinnon, 30, of St. Paul, is charged with two counts of third-degree DWI in connection with the crash that occurred shortly after midnight Aug. 1 at Third and Maple streets in the Dayton’s Bluff area.

McKinnon “appeared to be in shock and distraught” at the crash scene, according to the criminal complaint.

To avoid a conflict of interest, St. Paul officers called the Minnesota State Patrol to respond to the scene.

McKinnon refused medical attention at the scene and told investigators he was heading west on Third Avenue when he lost control of his vehicle.

McKinnon showed signs of injury and admitted drinking two beers before driving away, but refused to take a breath test at the scene.

He was arrested and blood drawn after authorities issued an arrest warrant.

Samples revealed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.178, according to the complaint.

The Minneapolis City Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

Each DWI charge McKinnon faces carries a maximum penalty of up to 364 days in jail and a $3,000 fine.