The Free Press, Mankato, MN

Local News

March 17, 2010

Taser used in drunk driving arrest

Fairmont man allegedly fought with officers

By Dan Nienaber Free Press Staff Writer

MANKATO — A Fairmont man had to be zapped in the back with a Taser device after he allegedly fought with officers during his arrest for drunken driving Friday.

A felony charge of assaulting a police officer was filed against 24-year-old Andrew Manuel Baca. He’s accused of fighting with three officers, then attempting to grab a Taser from one of them before kicking a Taser out of the hand of another.

Baca was followed on Walnut Street and into a downtown parking ramp by an officer who suspected he was driving under the influence of alcohol. He was approached and questioned at about 12:15 a.m.

He said he had been at a concert with his passenger, 22-year-old Blake Rasche of Fairmont, and was on his way to Mettler’s bar when he was stopped.

An initial breath test showed Baca had a blood-alcohol concentration of .16, twice the legal limit of .08 for driving. The officers reported there were also two open cans of Milwaukee’s Special Reserve beer in the car.

While one of the officers was talking to Rasche, he allegedly took a sip from one of the open beers. He was immediately arrested and cited for having an open alcohol container in a vehicle.

At that point Baca started fighting with the two officers, according to the criminal complaint. He was pushed down on the hood of a squad car, but allegedly continued to fight.

He was first zapped with a drive stun after he attempted to grab one officer’s Taser, the complaint said. Then another officer shot Baca in the back with Taser prongs after he allegedly kicked a Taser out of a third officer’s hands.

When Baca was given a second breath test, he had a reading of .15. He told the officers he had been drinking a variety of drinks throughout the night, including some beer “five seconds before he was pulled over.”

Rasche paid a $277 fine for his citation. In addition to the assault charge, Baca is facing gross misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated and obstructing the legal process.

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