27-CR-17-22815 Filed in Fourth Judicial District Court

9/11/2017 01:09:03 PM
Hennepin County, MN

StateofMinnesota DistrictCourt
CountyofHennepin 4thJudicialDistrict
ProsecutorFileNo. 17A11307
CourtFileNo. 27-CR-17-22815

StateofMinnesota, COMPLAINT
Plaintiff, OrderofDetention
vs.
BETHILENEFREEMANDOB:08/17/1963
3051LongfellowRoad
Mound,MN55364
Defendant.

The Complainant submits this complaint to the Court and states that there is probable cause to believe
Defendantcommittedthefollowingoffense(s):
COUNTI
Charge:CriminalVehicularHomicide-OperateMotorVehicleinGrosslyNegligentManner
MinnesotaStatute:609.2112.1(a)(1),withreferenceto:609.2112.1(a)
MaximumSentence:10YEARSAND/OR$20,000
OffenseLevel:Felony
OffenseDate(onorabout):09/08/2017
Control#(ICR#):17011842
Charge Description: That on or about 9/8/2017, in Hennepin County, Minnesota, BETH ILENE
FREEMAN,didbyoperatingamotorvehicleinagrosslynegligentmanner,causethedeathofvictim.
COUNTII
Charge:CriminalVehicularHomicide-OperateVehiclewithNegl-UndInflCtrlSubstance
MinnesotaStatute:609.2112.1(a)(2)(ii),withreferenceto:609.2112.1(a)
MaximumSentence:10YEARSAND/OR$20,000
OffenseLevel:Felony
OffenseDate(onorabout):09/08/2017
Control#(ICR#):17011842
Charge Description: That on or about 9/8/2017, in Hennepin County, Minnesota, BETH ILENE FREEMAN
did, by operating a motor vehicle in a negligent manner while under the influence of a controlled
substance,causethedeathofvictim.
COUNTIII
Charge:Traffic-DL-Drivingaftercancellation-inimicaltopublicsafety
MinnesotaStatute:171.24.5,withreferenceto:171.24.5
MaximumSentence:1YEARAND/OR$3,000
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 27-CR-17-22815 Filed in Fourth Judicial District Court
OffenseLevel:GrossMisdemeanor 9/11/2017 01:09:03 PM
Hennepin County, MN
OffenseDate(onorabout):09/08/2017
Control#(ICR#):17011842
Charge Description: That on or about 9/8/2017, in Hennepin County, Minnesota, BETH ILENE FREEMAN
operated a motor vehicle, the operation of which requires a driver's license, while such license or privilege
was cancelled or denied under Minn. Stat. 171.04, subdivision 1, clause (10) and BETH ILENE
FREEMANhadbeengivennoticeof,orreasonablyshouldhaveknownofthecancellationordenial.

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 27-CR-17-22815 Filed in Fourth Judicial District Court
STATEMENTOFPROBABLECAUSE 9/11/2017 01:09:03 PM
Hennepin County, MN

Complainanthasinvestigatedthefactsandcircumstancesofthisoffenseandbelievesthefollowing
establishesprobablecause:

OnFriday,September8,at12:26p.m.,aknownpoliceofficer,(hereinafter,victim)wasdispatchedtoa
chunkofmetalinroad,saidtobeattheintersectionofHighway12andBroadwayAvenue.Minuteslater,
atapproximately12:30p.m.onthatsamedate,lawenforcementheard"Officerdown!"comeoverthe
dispatch.ItwasfurtherairedthatthelocationoftheincidentwasHighway12andCentralAvenue.Dispatch
updatedthataWayzatapoliceofficerhadbeeninthatareafora"RoadDebris"callandhadbeenstruck
byanothervehicle.

Whenlawenforcementarrivedatthescene,numerousfirstrespondervehicleswerepresentfrommultiple
jurisdictions.TheyobservedafullymarkedWayzataPDSUVparkedontherightshoulderofHighway12.
Thebacktailgatewasraisedexposingaflashinglightbarthatcouldbeseenfromtherear.Allthevehicle's
emergencylightswereilluminated.

FirstrespondersperformedCPRonthevictim,whowouldbepronounceddeadshortlythereafter.Parked
justtothewestofwherethevictimwasreceivingmedicalattentionwasasilverNissanMurano,bearing
MNlicenseplates137GKT.Thewindshieldwasheavilydamaged.Thiswaspositivelyidentifiedby
numerouswitnessesasthevehiclethatstruckthevictim.

ThedriverandsoleoccupantoftheNissanMuranowasaBETHILENEFREEMAN,DOB8/17/1963.A
checkofthestatusofFREEMAN'sdriverslicensestatusrevealedthatitwasCancelledasInimicalto
PublicSafety.LawenforcementalsolearnedthatFREEMANhasahistoryofDUIandnarcoticsrelated
arrests,andiscurrentlyonprobationforaFifthDegreeControlledSubstance.

Officersbegantoidentifyandspeakwithwitnesses.One,anidentifiedmalewithinitialsTG,told
investigatorshewasdrivingbehindtheNissanMuranoeastonHighway12.TGsaidhesawtheWayzata
SUVontherightshoulder,withitsemergencylightsflashing.TGfirstobservedthevictimstandupfroma
bent-overpositioninwhathethoughtwasthemiddlelaneAsthevictimstoodup,theMuranostruckhim,
andsentthevictimairborne.TGsaidhewasapproximately150feetbehindtheMuranoandwastraveling
55-60MPH.HeestimatedtheMuranowastravelingapproximatelythesamespeed.TGdidnotseethe
brakelightsontheMuranoilluminateuntilafterthecollision.HesaidtheMuranodidnotswerveormake
anymovementstoavoidstrikingtheofficer.

Afterthecollision,TGstoppedhisvehicle,approachedthevictim,andcheckedforapulse.TGthoughtthe
victimhadafaintpulse.Hesaidthevictimwasbleedingfromtheheadbutwasn'tsureifhewasbreathing.
TGsaidthevictimwasneverconsciousduringhisinteractionwithhim.

Whilecheckingthevictim,TGsaidthefemaledriveroftheMuranowasoutsidehervehicleandkept
saying,"WhathaveIdone?"AsafronttireofherMuranowasstillrestingontheofficer,TGtoldhertoget
backinhercar,andbackoffofthevictim.

Therewereotherwitnessesstillatthescene.

Anotherwitness,anidentifiedfemale,initialsEN,wastravelingeastboundonHighway12duringthistime,
andsheobservedtherearflashersfromthevictimssquadcar.Whenshesawtheemergencylights,EN
movedfromtherightlaneofHighway12tothecenterlane.Asshepassedthevictimssquadcar,shesaw
thevictimgettingoutofhiscar.
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 27-CR-17-22815 Filed in Fourth Judicial District Court
9/11/2017 01:09:03 PM
Hennepin County, MN
Asshecontinueddriving,ENlookedinherrearviewmirror,andcouldseethevictimwalkingbacktohis
squadwhenhewasstruckbyanothervehicle.ENindicatedthevictimwasapproximatelyinthemiddleof
thefarrightlane,returningtohissquad,whenhewasstruck.

Athirdwitness,anidentifiedfemale,initialsEM,wastravelingeastboundonHighway12,inthefarright
lane,behindEN.EMalsoobservedtheflashingemergencylightsfromthevictimssquadcar,andslowed
herspeed,andmovedfromthefarrightlaneintothecenterlaneofeastboundHighway12.EMobserved
thevictimpickupsomedebrisintheroad,alongthedottedlinesbetweenthecenterlaneandfarright
lanes.

Astheofficerwaspickingupthedebris,EMobservedtheofficerlookup.EMrealizedatthistimethat
anothervehicle,aNissanMurano,wasinthefarrightlane,andwaspassingEM.EMhadsloweddown
considerably,andestimatedthattheNissanMuranowastravelingatapproximately65mph,whenitstruck
andkilledthevictim.EMobservedthevictimflyupovertheNissanMurano.EMindicatedthattherewas
plentyoftimetoreacttothevictimsflashinglightsandprovidetheofficeranextralaneofspace.

ADrugRecognitionExpert(DRE)arrivedatthescene,andadministeredfieldsobrietytests(FSTs)to
FREEMAN.TheactualFSTswerentadministereduntilapproximatelyonehourand15minutesaftershe
hitthevictim.TheDREindicatedthatdespitethepassageoftime,theinfluenceofacontrolledsubstance
wasevident,asFREEMANhadanelevatedpulse,constrictedpupils,anddifficultyincounting
backwards.

AsearchwarrantwasexecutedtoobtainasampleofFREEMANsblood.Thisbloodspecimenwillbe
analyzedbytheBureauofCriminalApprehension.

Duringapost-Mirandainterview,FREEMANadmittedtotalkingonherphoneandreceivingtextmessages
priortotheincident.Aforensicexaminationofherphonecorroboratedthisrecountandshowedthat
FREEMANhadbeenactivelytalkingonthephone,receivingtextmessages,andthatthemessageshad
beenreadinthetimeframeimmediatelypriortoherhittingthevictim.

AreviewofhercriminalhistoryanddrivingrecordshowsFreemanhasahistoryofconvictionsforDWIand
narcotics-relatedoffenses.AsearchwarrantwasexecutedonFreeman'scar,anddrugparaphernalia
discoveredfromthepassengercompartmenttestedpositiveforthepresenceofcocaine.

InvestigatorsalsoobtainedavideotapethathadbeenpostedtoInstagram,byaknownmale,initialsTC.
ThevideoshowsFREEMANimmediatelyaftershestruckandkilledthevictim.Inthevideo,FREEMAN
exclaims,Ijustlookedupandhewasthere.

EastboundHighway12wasclearandstraightforsomedistancepriortowhereFREEMANhitandkilled
thevictim.Therewerenoroadortrafficconditionsthatcontributedtothisaccident,andallothertrafficwas
abletoseethevictim'ssquadlights,andmoveovertothelefttogivehimroom.

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 27-CR-17-22815 Filed in Fourth Judicial District Court
SIGNATURESANDAPPROVALS 9/11/2017 01:09:03 PM
Hennepin County, MN

ComplainantrequeststhatDefendant,subjecttobailorconditionsofrelease,be:
(1)arrestedorthatotherlawfulstepsbetakentoobtainDefendant'sappearanceincourtor
(2)detained,ifalreadyincustody,pendingfurtherproceedingsandthatsaidDefendantotherwise
bedealtwithaccordingtolaw.
Complainantdeclaresunderpenaltyofperjurythateverythingstatedinthisdocumentistrueand
correct.Minn.Stat.358.116Minn.R.Crim.P.2.01,subds.1,2.

Complainant CoryMcLouden ElectronicallySigned:

Detective 09/11/201701:00PM
350S5thSt hennepinCounty,Minnesota
Minneapolis,MN55415
Badge:564

Beingauthorizedtoprosecutetheoffensescharged,Iapprovethiscomplaint.

ProsecutingAttorney StephanieMorgan ElectronicallySigned:

300S6thSt 09/11/201712:57PM
Minneapolis,MN55487
(612)348-5550

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 27-CR-17-22815 Filed in Fourth Judicial District Court
FINDINGOFPROBABLECAUSE 9/11/2017 01:09:03 PM
Hennepin County, MN
From the above sworn facts, and any supporting affidavits or supplemental sworn testimony, I, the Issuing Officer, have
determined that probable cause exists to support, subject to bail or conditions of release where applicable, Defendants arrest
or other lawful steps be taken to obtain Defendants appearance in court, or Defendants detention, if already in custody,
pendingfurtherproceedings.Defendantisthereforechargedwiththeabove-statedoffense(s).

SUMMONS
THEREFOREYOU,THEDEFENDANT,ARESUMMONEDtoappearon___________,_____at_____AM/PM
beforetheabove-namedcourtat300SSixthStreet,Minneapolis,MN55487toanswerthiscomplaint.

IFYOUFAILTOAPPEARinresponsetothisSUMMONS,aWARRANTFORYOURARRESTshallbeissued.

WARRANT
To the Sheriff of the above-named county or other person authorized to execute this warrant: I order, in the name of the State
of Minnesota, that the Defendant be apprehended and arrested without delay and brought promptly before the court (if in
session), and if not, before a Judge or Judicial Officer of such court without unnecessary delay, and in any event not later than
36hoursafterthearrestorassoonassuchJudgeorJudicialOfficerisavailabletobedealtwithaccordingtolaw.

ExecuteinMNOnly ExecuteNationwide ExecuteinBorderStates

X ORDEROFDETENTION
Since the Defendant is already in custody, I order, subject to bail or conditions of release, that the Defendant continue to be
detainedpendingfurtherproceedings.

Bail:$50,000.00
ConditionsofRelease:

Thiscomplaint,dulysubscribedandsworntoorsignedunderpenaltyofperjury,isissuedbytheundersignedJudicialOfficer
asofthefollowingdate:September11,2017.

JudicialOfficer JayQuam ElectronicallySigned:09/11/201701:02PM

DistrictCourtJudge

SworntestimonyhasbeengivenbeforetheJudicialOfficerbythefollowingwitnesses:

COUNTYOFHENNEPIN
STATEOFMINNESOTA

StateofMinnesota
Plaintiff LAWENFORCEMENTOFFICERRETURNOFSERVICE
IherebyCertifyandReturnthatIhaveservedacopyofthisOrderof
vs. DetentionupontheDefendanthereinnamed.
SignatureofAuthorizedServiceAgent:
BETHILENEFREEMAN
Defendant