Robbinsdale councilor resigns, special election expected to be declared

A Robbinsdale city councilor has announced his resignation.

In a letter to Robbinsdale Mayor Bill Blonigan, other council members as well as the city manager on Friday, Tyler Kline wrote he is resigning, effective immediately.

Kline represents the city’s First Ward.

According to the city clerk, a resolution declaring the vacant seat and a calling of a special election will be made at the next city council meeting.

Kline’s resignation comes after a recall committee’s petition was certified by the clerk’s office on Monday. City officials say a resolution for a special recall election was expected to be an agenda item at the June 7 council meeting.

In his letter, Kline wrote the following:

“This was not an easy decision to make, but the right one for me and my family. The past year and a half on the council has been very rewarding. I’ve enjoyed working with you and serving the community. I have regrets about why I am resigning, but my past mistakes won’t keep me from being my best.”

Tyler Kline, former Robbinsdale City Council member

A copy of the full resignation letter can be found at the bottom of this article.

As previously reported by 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, Kline was arrested in January after a wrong-way crash and a police chase.

RELATED: Robbinsdale City Council member charged with fleeing police, DWI

A criminal complaint states that police responded to a report of a crash caused by a driver going the wrong way near Highway 100 northbound at Brooklyn Boulevard just after 12:30 a.m. Monday.

Officers determined the suspect vehicle to be a gray Dodge Caravan after it drove away from the crash and traveled southbound in the northbound lanes.

The complaint continues to state that a Crystal police officer spotted the van going south in the northbound exit lane of Highway 100 to France Avenue North.

The officer switched on the emergency lights of his squad car and tried to stop the vehicle from entering the highway.

The complaint states that Kline made eye contact with the officer and fled by driving around the squad car.

Kline then continued heading south in the northbound lanes of Highway 100, and a Crystal police sergeant tried a maneuver to stop the vehicle. The van, still driving in the opposite lane, then exited Highway 100 at County Road 81.

Police said they then drove a squad car into the van to stop the pursuit.

Kline was then physically removed from the van after police said he refused commands from officers. He reportedly smelled of alcohol and had bloodshot eyes and poor balance.

Police arrested Kline and took him to the New Hope Police Department where he blew a 0.20 blood alcohol concentration.