Minnesota Criminal Defense Law Blog

Last month, the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that police may require those convicted of a crime to submit to a DNA sample without violating that person's constitutional right against an unreasonable search. The case came almost two years after a Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling upheld the DNA search.

Additionally, the court ruled in another case that requiring DNA of a juvenile charged with a felony does not violate any constitutional rights.

According to a recent report released by the Minnesota Coalition for Battered Women, a minimum of 34 Minnesotans were murdered in 2011 as a result of domestic violence. At least four of the victims were children, 23 were women, one was a man, and six were friends, relatives or someone who stepped in to intervene.

^{is, unfortunately, too common in Minnesota, and the coalition documents cases in order to urge authorities to step up efforts to protect victims.}Domestic violence

A 34-year-old Apple Valley man and part-time worker for the city of Apple Valley was arrested on Monday night after he allegedly drove a Zamboni machine under the influence of alcohol at a hockey game at Hayes Arena in Apple Valley. Police apparently arrived at the arena to find the man struggling to maneuver the machine around the ice rink.

According to local sources, officers initiated contact with the man after the machine was removed from the ice, and found signs of intoxication. The man was arrested and charged with DWI, and has since been suspended from his position. Sources add that the man has a history of drunk-driving convictions, though his employers say he has been a reliable employee.