DWI cases in Minnesota at risk due to lab mishap

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Hundreds of drunken driving cases in Anoka, Sherburne and Wright counties may be at risk because of a mistake at a testing lab.

KSTP-TV reports that it has obtained a letter in which the Tri-County Regional Forensic Laboratory says it miscalculated alcohol concentrations in urine tests since the start of the year. As a result, the rests were reported one-third higher than they should have been.

The lab's Web site says it is a collaboration between Anoka, Wright and Sherburne counties to provide crime lab services to law enforcement.

Sherburne County Attorney Kathleen Heaney tells the station that people make mistakes and the lab has handled the incident professionally.

Defense attorney Michael Brandt says there are probably people who have served time in jail based on the faulty tests.

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