Dakota County: Morning Drive Results in Multiple Charges against St. Paul Area Cop

The Dakota County Attorney’s office reported Friday it filed multiple charges against South St. Paul Police Officer Cory Michael Slifko after he was arrested June 11 in Rosemount after leading local police on a short chase.

Slifko, now 37, faces charges of driving under the influence and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle after the Tuesday morning incident, as well as criminal damage to property.

According to the charges and criminal complaint, filed Friday in Dakota County:

A Rosemount Police Officer was on routine patrol when dispatch advised him of a citizen’s complaint about a black SUV that was entering the city. The caller, who was driving on Minnesota Highway 3, was following the vehicle as it they were traveling northbound approaching Dakota County Highway 42.

Officer Ryan Coughlin observed the black Chevy Trailblazer as it stopped for a light at the intersection. The SUV had already sustained damage to its front end, and a driver’s side mirror on the vehicle was hanging off its mounting. Dispatch also informed Coughlin witnesses saw the truck leave the road at one point, hit a number of mailboxes and nearly run a semi-truck off the road prior to the emergency call.

Coughlin began to follow the suspect’s vehicle soon after it passed through the intersection to observe driving conduct. Soon after, Slifko ran the vehicle off the road, onto a curb, and then return to the road with a  swerve.

As Coughlin attempted to conduct a traffic stop Slifko pulled into a nearby Kwik Trip location. Coughlin, believing the driver was coming to a stop, advised dispatch he was pulling the vehicle over. Coughlin pulled up along the left side of the TrailBlazer.

Slifko then decided to flee, attempting to turn left out of the parking lot. Concerned Slifko was a threat to public safety, Coughlin attempted a PIT maneuver with his vehicle and push the TrailBlazer into a parked car. It was not successful, as the driver made his way past, attempting to get back onto Highway 3.

Slifko nearly hit a semi, forcing the truck to stop. Coughlin gave chase, and eventually attempted another PIT maneuver on Highway 3. He pushed the car into the curb, and eventually brought the brief chase to an end.

Slifko was removed from the vehicle and given field sobriety tests, all of which he failed. The complaint also states when asked where he was, he stated “in Empire.”

A field breath test came back at 0.16, twice the limit in Minnesota.