Driver Charged With Allegedly Ramming SUV Into Gov's Residence Gate
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – A Center City man is in jail on Monday after trying to ram the gates of the Governor's Residence in St. Paul on Sunday night.
The Minnesota State Patrol, which guards the Governor, says a vehicle driven by 59-year-old Clinton Leonard Fouquette of Center City crashed through the front gates and came to a stop in the driveway.
A transmission from St. Paul police revealed that a patrol officer at the residence drew his weapon and pointed it at the vehicle.
The Ramsey County Attorney's office said on a complaint that Fouquette drove his 1999 full-sized Chevy Tahoe SUV at a high speed into the gates. Security officers said it sounded 'like an explosion.'
Fouquette was removed from the vehicle at gunpoint and told troopers he had many problems and needed to speak to the Governor. The complaint also says Fouquette told paramedics that he was tired of dealing with "all the electricity under his skin".
The gate crashing incident occurred just days after Governor Dayton returned to the Residence, after spending a month at the Mayo Clinic recovering from two back surgeries.
A spokeswoman for the Governor said "Governor Dayton was at home at the time of the incident; he was never in danger," crediting Troopers for doing "an exceptional job deescalating the situation to keep everyone safe."
The crash caused $50,000 to $75,000 in damage to the gate.
Fouquette faces up to 5 years in prison per charge. His first appearance in court is scheduled for 1:20 p.m. Tuesday.
