Cop makes plea deal on DUI charge

Cloquet police officer Andrew Murray pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving while impaired at a hearing in district court last week. It means he will likely face probation and maybe a fine after an arrest three months ago.

Murray represented himself in the case that stems from his arrest Aug. 6 after crashing his car in Carlton. Police officers had been tipped previously about someone driving erratically in the area at the time. Murray fled into the woods near the South Terrace school, where police eventually found him.

Special prosecutor Shawn Reed agreed to drop two counts of DWI and one count of failure to stop for a collision.

An agreement calls for a 90-day jail sentence stayed in favor of probation, the terms of which will be left up to the court at sentencing. Murray would also be subject to a $1,000 fine.

District judge Rebekka Stumme ordered an investigation of Murray’s background prior to sentencing.

Dec. 14.

Murray is on paid leave with the police department and will remain so until the case is completed, chief Derek Randall said in a statement he released after the crash. An internal investigation would begin after sentencing.