Hennepin County commissioners to discuss Sheriff Hutchinson in closed meeting

The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners is set to discuss “legal strategies” regarding embattled Sheriff Dave Hutchinson in a closed meeting Tuesday.

A public notice did not disclose any further details about the topic at hand, citing “attorney-client privilege.”

Hutchinson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DWI charge last month after he admitted to driving a county-owned SUV while drunk and crashing it the morning of Dec. 8 on Interstate 94 east of Alexandria. He was heading home from a sheriff’s conference at the time of the crash.

A judge sentenced Hutchinson to two years of probation as part of the plea deal.

Since his conviction, more details have emerged from the Minnesota State Patrol investigation. Documents show Hutchinson was traveling over 120 mph at the time of the crash and had initially denied to law enforcement that he was behind the wheel. Images and dash camera video of the incident capture the mangled vehicle and Hutchinson’s drunken interactions with law enforcement at the crash scene.

Five of seven Hennepin County commissioners have called on Hutchinson to resign, as have Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. So far Hutchinson has refused to leave his post, deciding instead not to run for reelection.