Mankato Man Charged with 4th DWI Monday

A Mankato man was charged with his 4th DWI in the last 10 years on Monday in Blue Earth County District Court. Joseph Lee Howard,

On December 21, 2024, officers of the Mankato Department of Public Safety responded to a 911 call indicating that a black SUV was driving through backyards. Officers arrived on scene and observed the vehicle still running and observed tire tracks through the back yards of homes. Officers observed an individual sleeping in the rear driver side passenger seat. Officers immediately smelled an overwhelming odor of alcohol coming from the individual. The individual who was identified as Joseph Lee Howard.

Howard refused to perform any field sobriety test and was arrested. Officers found a half-consumed bottle of hard alcohol on the floorboard of the vehicle. Officer Strong attempted to provide the DMT breath test to Howard but he refused.

Howard has three previous DWI convictions in the last ten years, and Howard’s driving status is cancelled as inimical to public safety.