Rochester DWI Crash Suspect Skips Court, Arrest Warrant Issued

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A skipped court hearing has resulted in the issuance of an arrest warrant for a Minneapolis man who is facing felony charges for allegedly driving while impaired and seriously injuring a pedestrian in downtown Rochester.

Olmsted County court records indicate that 35-year-old Darcy Travis Lewis is charged with two felony counts of criminal vehicular operation and two misdemeanor DWI charges stemming from the incident in early June. The criminal complaint says Lewis was driving a minivan north on 3rd Avenue Southwest near the intersection with 3rd Street when the vehicle struck the pedestrian.

Witnesses reported that the pedestrian was running across 3rd Avenue in front of a bus when he was hit, and the court document says the witness statements were corroborated by a video recorded by a city traffic camera. The injured pedestrian was transported to St. Marys Hospital with a fractured rib, broken nose, and other injuries.

Marijuana and Meth Use Reported by Suspect

The charges filed against Lewis say Rochester police officers who responded to the scene found him sitting on the curb near where the collision occurred. The officers reported detecting the odor of burnt marijuana on him and later found a small amount of the drug and a partially smoked cigar inside the minivan.

According to the criminal complaint, Lewis told an officer at the scene that he had smoked marijuana earlier in the day and had used methamphetamine the previous day. He was arrested after a field sobriety test was conducted, which detected two signs of impairment.

READ MORE: Driver Arrested for Striking Pedestrian in Downtown Rochester

The court document says a blood sample was obtained from Lewis for testing after he was taken to the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center. The results of those tests were positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine.

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Extensive Criminal History Documented

Minnesota court records show that Lewis has an extensive criminal history dating back to 2008 that includes 17 felony convictions. The most recent was a felony theft conviction in Ramsey County, which resulted in a sentence of three years on probation.

Lewis was released from custody last month after posting a $25,000 bond.