Kandiyohi Co Deputy Charged in July Crash

(Learfield News/Willmar, MN) A Kandiyohi County sheriff’s deputy is now charged with driving while intoxicated after crashing his patrol vehicle last month.

The criminal complaint says 39-year-old Christopher Flatten of Atwater was seen driving erratically on the evening of July 18th before his county SUV left a county road near Atwater and rolled several times.

He was airlifted to the St. Cloud Hospital, and an investigating state trooper obtained a search warrant for a blood test, but Flatten, who reportedly had bloodshot eyes and smelled of alcohol, refused.

He has been charged with refusal to submit to testing and 4th degree DWI.

Deputy Flatten is currently on leave from the Kandiyohi County Sheriff’s Department.