Burnsville Man Arrested on Warrant for Criminal Vehicular Operation

On Saturday, local police picked up the subject of a nationwide arrest warrant: A Burnsville man accused of driving drunk last August and crashing his car into a tree on West River Hills Drive, injuring himself and his passenger.

Jacob Michael Theobald, 22, is charged with criminal vehicular operation resulting in substantial bodily harm, a felony with a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He is also charged with two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree driving while impaired, each of which carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

According to the criminal complaint, Burnsville police were called to West River Hills Drive at about 3:30 a.m. last Aug. 7 on a report of a car accident with injuries.

Officers found the car’s driver, Theobald, and his passenger, both of whom complained of injuries to their arms.

Theobald told police that he had been drinking and had lost control of the car, crashing it into a tree, according to the complaint. His passenger said Theobald was trying to show off and was driving too fast while he tried to pass a friend’s car on a corner.

Two witnesses agreed with the passenger’s account, telling police that Theobald was speeding and appeared to lose control before crashing into the tree.

Police administered a preliminary breath test to Theobald and determined that his blood-alcohol level was .152, almost twice the legal limit. A subsequent search of Theobald’s Cadillac turned up several unopened 16-ounce cans of beer.

Theobald’s passenger suffered a fractured right arm in the crash.

Theobald is currently being held in the Dakota County Jail without bail. He is scheduled for his first appearance on Monday.