LEWISTON, Minn. — A Lewiston man was charged with impaired driving after a sheriff’s deputy stopped him at Dutchman’s Crossing near the Lewiston Grade summit of U.S. Highway14. Melvin Velazquez-Torres, age 24, blew a 0.19% preliminary blood-alcohol reading at the traffic stop. The stop was about 1:05 a.m. By the time that deputies transported him to the Winona County jail, 12 miles away, his blood-alcohol was down to 0.17%. Any reading that exceeds 0.08% is impairment. The arresting deputy said Velazquez-Torres had watery and blood-shot eyes, slurred speech and smelled of marijuana and also admitted drinking and smoking. He failed roadside sobriety exercises., the deputy said. The stop for an expired vehicle registration.
