Lab error leads to 11 incorrect DWI charges in MN

Eleven people were wrongly charged with drunken driving even though they weren't over Minnesota's legal limit to drive due to a math mistake at a metro-area lab.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports the people were arrested in Anoka, Sherburne and Wright counties. Officials there recently reviewed 108 cases and uncovered the problems.

The mistakes were made on urine tests by the Tri-County Regional Forensic Laboratory in Andover, which is operated by the three counties.

Anoka sheriff's office spokesman Lt. Paul Sommer says the problem was found when deputies questioned a wide disparity between urine test results and breath tests given in the field.

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Authorities say people who were given the urine tests since January have been notified. Those who think they were wrongly accused can have their cases reviewed by a judge.

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Information from: St. Paul Pioneer Press

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)