The Discovery That Changed Everything
While defending two clients facing DWI charges, Ramsay’s firm requested maintenance records for the alcohol testing device housed at the Aitkin County Sheriff’s Office. A careful review of those documents revealed something troubling: the dry gas cylinder number listed in test reports didn’t match the actual cylinder installed in the machine.
This wasn’t just a paperwork mix-up. The dry gas cylinder is essential for verifying that breath testing equipment is functioning accurately. When the wrong cylinder information is used, there’s no way to confirm the reliability of test results.
A Year’s Worth of Tests Compromised
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) investigated and confirmed the problem affected 73 breath tests conducted between May 25, 2024, and May 4, 2025. In a rare admission, the state crime lab acknowledged they cannot testify to the accuracy of any of these results.
The DataMaster Transportable (DMT) device in question is used by multiple law enforcement agencies throughout the region, meaning the impact extends across several jurisdictions in Minnesota’s northland.
What This Means for DWI Defendants
Breath test evidence is typically the prosecution’s strongest tool in DWI cases. Courts and juries often view these machines as infallible. But this case proves they’re only as reliable as the humans who maintain and operate them.
The BCA has notified law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and defense attorneys about the compromised tests. Aitkin County authorities are now working to establish better auditing procedures to prevent similar errors in the future.
For the 73 individuals whose cases were affected, this discovery could mean the difference between a conviction and a dismissal. Without reliable breath test results, the state’s case becomes substantially weaker, or may fall apart entirely.
The Value of Thorough Legal Defense
This situation highlights why experienced DWI defense matters. Many attorneys simply accept breath test results at face value. Ramsay’s firm took the extra step of reviewing maintenance documentation, uncovering an error that might otherwise have gone unnoticed for years.
If you’re facing DWI charges in Minnesota, especially in the Aitkin County area, this case demonstrates the importance of working with a DWI Lawyer in Minnesota who knows how to challenge the evidence against you.
Read the full news coverage of this case here: Attorney discovers problem with alcohol detection device used in DWI cases in the heart of Minnesota’s cabin country – KSTP.com 5 Eyewitness News
