Brown County

District Court

• Two counts of gross misdemeanor second-degree DWI and misdemeanor open bottle were filed Monday against Matthew J. Wheeler, 43, Owatonna.

According to court documents, New Ulm Police were dispatched to a driving complaint at 4:18 p.m., Sept. 7. The caller said the suspect vehicle drove over a curb and almost hit other vehicles on the road, between Hardee’s and the Walmart parking lot.

Police found the vehicle registered to Wheeler, unoccupied. A witness told police the vehicle driver stumbled as he walked away from the vehicle with two minors. Police were told the three people just entered Walmart. Police saw a man matching the description of Wheeler who admitted his sons were with him when he drove over a curb.

Police observed Wheeler’s intoxication clues before he failed certain field sobriety tests. He admitted drinking, failed a Preliminary Breath Test and said he was over the legal limit to drive. Wheeler was arrested. His breath sample showed an alcohol concentration of .35 grams per 210 liters of breath. Police searched his vehicle and found an open whiskey bottle under the driver’s seat with a small amount of alcohol inside and an open bottle of rum with an alcoholic beverage remaining in a backpack in the trunk.

• A gross misdemeanor charge of third-degree refusal to submit to chemical test, misdemeanor fourth-degree DWI, obstruction of legal process and public urination were filed Monday against Jesse L. Helget, 32, 810 N. Payne St., New Ulm.

According to court documents, New Ulm Police were advised of a driving complaint on a white, 2000 Chevrolet Silverado at 1:09 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 8. The caller said the vehicle was all over the road. Police located the suspect vehicle in the alley between Payne and Jefferson Streets near 9th North Street . The vehicle was parked at 810 N. Payne St. and the driver exited. Police asked him to stop but refused a command to walk towards police.

Another officer arrived and identified the suspect as Helget who refused to identify himself, saying he was in his backyard, but he was in his neighbor’s backyard at the time. Police put Helget in a secure hold and told him to stop resisting, then handcuffed him. Police observed intoxication clues from Helget before transporting him to the Brown County Law Enforcement Center (LEC), after he refused to perform certain field sobriety tests.

At the LEC, Helget failed a chemical breath test. Jail staff refused to hold Helget due to his argumentative attitude and unwillingness to comply with orders. Helget was transported to Brown County Detox. The caller gave a statement that prior to calling in the complaint, he observed Helget urinating in the street near 11th South Street and German Street.