Robbinsdale City Council member charged with fleeing a peace officer, driving while under the influence

A Robbinsdale City Council member has been charged for his involvement in a drunk driving incident that occurred on Highway 100 on Jan. 24, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.

Tyler Kline, 38, of Robbinsdale, faces one count of fleeing a peace officer, one count of driving while under the influence, and another count of driving while under the influence with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or more.

Kline will make his first appearance Jan. 26 at 1:30 p.m.

According to the criminal complaint, after midnight on Jan. 24, officers were alerted to an accident caused by Kline who was driving the wrong way near Highway 100 at Brooklyn Boulevard.

Kline, who was driving a minivan, fled the scene after the accident, and continued to travel southbound in the northbound lanes of traffic. Kline was re-entering Highway 100 when a Crystal police officer noticed his vehicle heading in the wrong direction in the northbound exit lane to France Ave. N., the complaint continues.

The police officer activated emergency lights on his patrol car, and attempted to block the minivan from entering the highway. Kline proceeded to drive around the patrol car and flee from the officer.

A Crystal police sergeant tried to stop Kline as well with his squad car, using a trained maneuver on the minivan as it left the highway at County Road 81, still heading in the wrong direction. As Kline continued to evade police, a second maneuver was executed, the complaint states. Kline was eventually stopped by officers when they drove into his minivan with their squad car.

Police made several requests for Kline to exit the vehicle, and he was eventually physically taken out of the driver’s seat by officers. At the time of his arrest, Kline smelled of alcohol, and showed signs of impairment.

When Kline was taken to the New Hope Police Department, he agreed to provide a breath sample which showed a blood alcohol concentration of .20, more than twice the legal limit.

View Tyler Kline's criminal complaint (PDF).