Minnesota Rep. Daniel Wolgamott, 36, faces fresh drunk driving charges after allegedly fleeing a crash scene on foot Wednesday evening.
The DFL lawmaker was arrested in St. Cloud after his vehicle slammed into a parked car, leaving an occupant hospitalized with noncritical injuries, according to police. Officers arriving at the scene found Wolgamott walking away from the wreckage.
A police filing described the lawmaker as showing clear signs of intoxication. “Wolgamott had poor balance, bloodshot eyes and glossy eyes,” the filing reportedly stated. “While speaking with [Wolgamott], he had slurred speech and was having difficulty formulating full sentences. [He] also showed multiple signs of impairment during field sobriety test.”
Wolgamott was charged with criminal vehicular operation, bodily harm and driving while under the influence of alcohol, and was held without bail following the incident.
This marks the second time in three years the St. Cloud-area Democrat has faced drunk driving charges. In 2023, he was convicted of misdemeanor drunken driving after officers pulled him over following a tip about a man drinking in a liquor store parking lot.
After that earlier arrest, Wolgamott underwent professional evaluation and received “an assessment that I do not have an alcohol-use disorder,” he said at the time, according to the Minnesota Reformer.
The outgoing legislator had already announced he would not seek a fifth term in the state House this year, instead mounting an unsuccessful bid for state auditor in a primary contest against a fellow DFL member.
Wolgamott did not respond to multiple requests for comment following his latest arrest, the Reformer reported.
The incident comes amid renewed legislative attention to repeat drunk driving offenses in Minnesota. The state House recently passed increased requirements for repeat DWI offenders, tightening penalties for those with multiple convictions.