St. Louis Park Police Officer Faces DWI, Hit-and-Run Charges

A St. Louis Park police officer is facing DWI, hit-and-run, and other charges after police say she drove away after crashing her car while having a blood alcohol content of .20, more than twice the legal limit to drive.

According to the criminal complaint, an off-duty police officer was walking by NE Palace bar in Minneapolis around 11:15 p.m. on Aug. 5 and heard what sounded like a car crash. Witnesses confirmed there had been an accident and told the Silva the offender drove away.

Silva followed the Scion to a parking lot and asked the driver, identified as Chaunte Lee Ford, 27, to get out of the vehicle.

Silva noticed Ford smelled of alcohol and had to use the car for balance. He asked the Ford if the Scion was her car, and she began to cry. She said she was a cop and that she was sorry. She said that her friends asked if she would come get them and she had agreed.

Silva tried to calm the defendant down "as she was becoming hysterical," according to the complaint. When other officers arrived, Ford said, "I f----- up!" several times.

By the time other officers arrived, police say Ford became hostile, making "obscene gestures and comments" to the officers. Ford went on to say "F--- the police! I f------ hate cops and I hate that I’m a cop! All you guys do is harass black people!"

And at one point, police say she pulled down her pants, squatted and urinated on the ground.

Police say they had to forcefully handcuff Ford and bring Ford in for testing, where she blew .20, more than twice the the .08 legal limit to drive.

Ford faces several charges, including third-degree DWI, collision with an unattended vehicle, careless driving, and obstruction of the legal process.

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