In a display of diligent police work that some might call a sports metaphor come to life, Officer Chad Streiff of the Eden Prairie Police Department has once again netted himself a "Hat Trick." On the night of May 7-8, Streiff pulled off the impressive feat of arresting three individuals under the influence within a single shift. For this, he was awarded a personalized hockey stick by Bill Hammes, law enforcement liaison for the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety, as reported in an official police bulletin.
The first arrest came when Officer Streiff noticed a car stopped in a crosswalk around 7:30 p.m. The driver, displaying watery eyes and the telltale smell of alcohol, admitted to drinking and blew a .08 on a Preliminary Breath Test – the legal limit in Minnesota. Two hours later, a similar scene unfolded with another driver who was found to have bloodshot eyes and the strong odor of burnt marijuana emanating from the vehicle. As a certified Drug Recognition Evaluator, Streiff obtained a warrant for a blood sample after a field sobriety test indicated impairment due to cannabis, and a baggie of marijuana was also discovered in the car. His third catch of the night involved a vehicle with a broken taillight and a driver who also recorded a .08 BAC, leading to a 4th Degree DWI arrest. According to the City of Eden Prairie, MN bulletin, "Officer Streiff serves as a full-time DWI officer thanks to a grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety."
This latest achievement adds to a striking record for Officer Streiff, who since August 2018 has made 24 Hat Tricks, two "Grand Slams" and one "Ace," which involves five DWI arrests in a single shift. Such stats are impressive by any standard, and they shed light on the extent of Streiff's contribution to keeping Eden Prairie's roads safer from impaired drivers.
The Eden Prairie Police Department uses these noteworthy arrests as a reminder of the dangers of drunk driving and the role the public plays in apprehending such drivers. In the bulletin, they urged the community: "If you observe a possible drunk driver, please pull over or have a passenger call 911 and provide dispatch with as much information as possible including location, license plate number and the observed dangerous driving behavior." The emphasis on collaboration between law enforcement and the public is clear. "Together we can work to keep our roadways safe," the statement concludes. With officers like Streiff on patrol and vigilant citizens ready to report, the streets of Minnesota are undeniably under watchful eyes.
