A Coon Rapids woman is facing multiple driving-while-impaired charges after police say she was found behind the wheel of a stalled vehicle in a busy intersection late Monday night and showed signs of heavy intoxication during field sobriety testing.
Late-Night Call Leads to DWI Arrest
According to the criminal complaint filed in Anoka County District Court, Laroisha Monique Smith, 34, was charged with third-degree driving while impaired (test refusal) and fourth-degree driving while impaired (under the influence of alcohol) after the incident at Northdale Boulevard NW and Raven Street NW in Coon Rapids on October 13, 2025.
At approximately 11:37 p.m., Officer P. Giese responded to a call from a passerby, identified as A.P., who reported a stalled black Ford Edge in the intersection. A.P. told dispatchers the driver appeared confused and was attempting to push the vehicle alone.
When officers arrived, they found Smith in the driver’s seat with the vehicle still in gear. The officer instructed her to press the brakes as the SUV began rolling backward, but she appeared disoriented and slow to respond. After several prompts, she eventually placed the vehicle in park.
Signs of Impairment
While speaking with Smith, Officer Giese noted slurred speech, slow responses, and an odor of alcohol coming from her breath. Smith repeatedly tried to exit the vehicle and rambled incoherently, at one point stating, “I shouldn’t have done this,” but refusing to explain what she meant.
Another responding officer, Officer Ali, asked if she had consumed alcohol. Smith said she had her last drink around 4:00 p.m., but continued to show glassy, red eyes and balance issues.
Smith performed several Standardized Field Sobriety Tests, including the horizontal gaze nystagmus, walk-and-turn, and one-leg stand, all of which she failed, according to the complaint.
A preliminary breath test at the scene registered a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.181, more than twice Minnesota’s legal limit of 0.08.
Refusal During Formal Testing
After being transported for further testing, Smith was read the Minnesota Implied Consent Advisory, informing her of the requirement to submit to an official chemical test. She initially agreed to a breath test using the DataMaster machine and provided one adequate sample showing an alcohol concentration of 0.204.
However, she failed to provide the required second sample, which is necessary for a valid test under state law. As a result, the incident was recorded as a test refusal, elevating the charge to a gross misdemeanor.
Charges and Penalties
Smith faces two counts:
- Third-Degree DWI — Refusal to Submit to Chemical Test (Gross Misdemeanor)
Maximum penalty: up to 364 days in jail and a $3,000 fine. - Fourth-Degree DWI — Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (Misdemeanor)
Maximum penalty: up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Judge Karin McCarthy signed an order of detention, finding probable cause and ordering that Smith remain in custody pending further proceedings.
Ongoing DWI Concerns in Coon Rapids
The case comes amid a series of alcohol-related traffic incidents in Anoka County this year, several of which began as welfare or vehicle-assist calls rather than traditional traffic stops.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This report is based solely on verified information from an Anoka County District Court criminal complaint filed October 14, 2025.
