South St. Paul Man Charged With First-Degree DWI After Crash, .26 BAC Alleged
Published: April 30th 2026
SOUTH SAINT PAUL MN: A South St. Paul man has been charged with felony driving while impaired after a crash and erratic driving incident in December, with an alleged blood alcohol concentration of 0.26 and a recent impaired driving-related license revocation, according to a criminal complaint filed in Dakota County.
According to the complaint, on or about December 5, 2025, Joel David Thompson (DOB: 08/29/1985) drove, operated, or was in physical control of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and within ten years of three or more qualified impaired driving incidents.
Officers were dispatched at approximately 3:40 p.m. to a driving complaint and vehicle collision in South St. Paul. A reporting party told police that a vehicle had struck a snowbank and was “flipping u-turns, over and over” before crashing into a trailer.
Officers located the vehicle and identified Thompson as the driver. The complaint states Thompson had bloodshot, watery eyes and demonstrated poor balance. Officers also noted a strong odor of cologne, which could mask the smell of alcohol.
Thompson agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tests. During the horizontal gaze nystagmus test, an officer observed multiple clues of impairment, according to the complaint. Thompson declined a preliminary breath test.
During a search of the vehicle, officers located a large unopened bottle of vodka, the complaint states.
Thompson was arrested and transported to the police department. After being read the breath test advisory and using his attorney time, Thompson agreed to provide a breath sample. The result showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.26, according to the complaint.
The complaint further states Thompson has prior impaired driving-related incidents within the past ten years, including convictions on March 23, 2023, and July 16, 2021. In addition, Thompson had an impaired driving-related license revocation on November 30, 2025, according to the complaint. Those prior incidents elevate the case to a first-degree DWI under Minnesota law.
Thompson is charged with first-degree driving while impaired (under the influence of alcohol) and first-degree driving while impaired (.08 or more), both felonies. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of three to seven years in prison and/or fines ranging from $4,200 to $14,000.
No booking photo is available at this time, as the complaint was filed by summons
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.