Mahnomen County Deputy Arrested

A Mahnomen County Sheriff’s Deputy has been arrested for suspicion of driving while intoxicated and refusing to take a chemical test.  On Tuesday afternoon, two Minnesota State Patrol Troopers responded to a call for assistance from Mahnomen County Deputy Rick Ohren of Hawley after Ohren’s pickup had gone into the ditch near Mahnomen.  Ohren was off-duty at the time.  A patrol sergeant noticed the smell of alcohol coming from Ohren. According to the criminal complaint, Ohren had trouble completing several field sobriety tests and admitted to drinking ten vodkas.  A preliminary test showed a blood alcohol content of .284–more than three times the legal limit.  Mahnomen County Sheriff Josh Guenther says Ohren is on administrative leave and that the Minnesota State Patrol is handling the investigation.

Court records show Ohren has four previous DUI convictions in Minnesota and North Dakota. His most recent conviction was in 2015 near Hawley.