A 26-year-old East Bethel man is facing gross misdemeanor DWI charges after police say they found him unconscious in a running vehicle outside a Subway restaurant in Blaine with bottles of Fireball whiskey nearby and vomit on his shirt.
Officers Called to Blaine Subway
According to the criminal complaint filed in Anoka County District Court, officers with the Blaine Police Department were dispatched to the Subway restaurant at 12410 Aberdeen Street NE around 8:50 p.m. on October 14, 2025, after an employee reported an intoxicated man had entered the store, taken a bag of chips, and eaten them without paying.
When officers arrived, they located the man — later identified as Ameen Ayman Othman — sitting in a parked vehicle that was straddling two parking spaces directly in front of the restaurant. Othman appeared unconscious, and officers observed what looked like vomit on his shirt and a brown paper bag containing multiple Fireball whiskey shooters on the passenger seat.
Field Sobriety and Arrest
Officers attempted to wake Othman and asked him to exit the vehicle. As he did, he stumbled, leaned heavily, and fell to the ground, prompting officers to intervene to prevent him from striking his head.
Due to a language barrier, police used an Arabic translator to communicate. Othman reportedly denied being heavily intoxicated and stated he was not taking any medication.
Because of his severe imbalance, officers performed only the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, which measures involuntary eye movements associated with alcohol impairment. Police noted distinct and sustained nystagmus in both eyes, a clear indicator of intoxication.
A preliminary breath test registered a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.183 — more than twice the legal limit of 0.08.
Othman was arrested and transported to the Blaine Police Department, where he was read the Minnesota Breath Test Advisory. At 10:10 p.m., a formal DataMaster DMT breath test measured his BAC at 0.18.
Prior DWI and Elevated Charges
A review of Othman’s record revealed a prior impaired driving conviction from July 30, 2024, which served as an aggravating factor in the new case.
He was charged with:
- Count 1: DWI – Operating a Motor Vehicle with Alcohol Concentration 0.08 or More Within Two Hours (Gross Misdemeanor)
- Count 2: DWI – Operating a Motor Vehicle Under the Influence of Alcohol (Gross Misdemeanor)
Each count carries a maximum penalty of 364 days in jail and/or a $3,000 fine.
Judge Karin McCarthy ordered that Othman remain detained pending further court proceedings.
Pattern of Repeat Impaired Driving Cases
Othman’s arrest marks another in a series of repeat DWI cases filed in Anoka County in recent months. Prosecutors have noted a rise in cases where drivers are found impaired while parked or unconscious, sometimes before they can leave the scene.
In Othman’s case, police credited quick action from restaurant staff in preventing potential harm. Officers emphasized that the situation could have been far worse had he attempted to drive.
Othman remains in custody at the Anoka County Jail, awaiting his first appearance in district court.
All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This article is based solely on verified facts contained in a criminal complaint filed October 15, 2025, in Anoka County District Court.