LEWISTON, Minn. – A sheriff’s deputy saw an oncoming pickup truck not signaling and weaving on U.S. Highway 14 above Farmers Park at Rolling Hills Road. The deputy turned around and gave chase. A mile farther at the Lewiston city limits the deputy caught up. The driver, Jesse Richard Whalen, 33, of Rochester, was drunk, the deputy said. The deputy reported that as he tried to communicate with Whalen, the guy kept fumbling with the vehicle’s radio and focusing on his dog. Then came field sobriety tests and a blood-alcohol test. The man’s blood was running 0.14% alcohol – close to twice the legal limit for driving. Later at the jail another test showed 0.15%. The deputy wasn’t surprised. He said Whalen had blood-shot and watery eyes, droopy lids and slurred speech and smelled drunk.
