A Columbia Heights man is facing gross misdemeanor charges after police say he crashed into a parked vehicle early Friday morning while driving with a blood alcohol concentration more than two and a half times the legal limit.
According to a criminal complaint filed in Anoka County District Court, Benjamin Andrew Sawatzky, 32, has been charged with two counts of driving while impaired — including second-degree DWI with two or more aggravating factors.
Columbia Heights Police responded to a crash at 45th Avenue Northeast and Arthur Street Northeast around 1:46 a.m. on October 17, 2025. Officers found that Sawatzky, driving a white 2008 Toyota Corolla, had struck a parked black Honda Accord.
When officers spoke with Sawatzky, they noted the smell of alcohol on his breath. He admitted to drinking before driving and exhibited signs of impairment, including bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and poor balance. Field sobriety tests showed visible impairment on all three assessments: the horizontal gaze nystagmus, one-leg stand, and heel-to-toe walk.
A preliminary breath test at the scene registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.18. After being read the Minnesota Implied Consent Advisory, Sawatzky agreed to a formal breath test, which measured his BAC at 0.21 at 2:28 a.m. — nearly three times the legal limit.
Court records indicate Sawatzky has a prior DWI conviction from March 2024 in Scott County (case number 62SU-CR-23-3975), making this a repeat offense and elevating the current charges to second-degree DWI.
Judge Karin McCarthy signed an order of detention on October 17, 2025, ordering that Sawatzky remain in custody pending further proceedings. Each gross misdemeanor count carries a potential penalty of up to one year in jail and a $3,000 fine.
The case was investigated by the Columbia Heights Police Department and prosecuted by the Anoka County Attorney’s Office.
