Police Officer Tasered During Minnesota DWI Arrest

An Anoka County Sheriff's Department deputy is facing multiple charges following an arrest for DWI in Minnesota where he reached for an officer's gun and was tasered three times. Lawrence John Doheny was stopped in the southern part of the state for a traffic violation. A Jordan police officer detected alcohol on Doheny's breath and suspected intoxication. Doheny admitted to having consumed a few beers, and when asked to exit his vehicle he stumbled. He refused to perform field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Minnesota.

Doheny was taken to the Jordan Police Department and asked to have his urine or blood tested for blood-alcohol content. He offered to submit to a breath test, which is not an option in Scott County. Doheny then said, "you guys nailed me" and agreed to a blood draw at a local medical facility. While being escorted to the hospital, he reached for an officer's gun and threatened the officer by saying they shouldn't test him. As the officer secured his gun and called for back-up, Doheny pushed the officer in the chest and started to flee. When Doheny refused the officer's command to get on the ground, he was hit with a taser gun. He continued to try to escape and was tasered two more times.

Doheny was restrained and taken to the hospital where a blood sample was taken. The results will not be known until processed at a state lab. Doheny was reportedly belligerent to the hospital staff. He faces charges of DWI test refusal, drunk driving in Minnesota and obstructing an officer with force. If convicted of all charges, Doheny, 49, could be fined $7,000 and sentenced to jail for 27 months.

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