South St. Paul Woman Arrested on Felony DUI Charges After Allegedly Testing Positive for Fentanyl
SOUTH ST PAUL, MINNESOTA - A South St. Paul woman, Danielle Marie Rickard, 43, is facing serious felony charges following her arrest on March 15, 2024, for driving under the influence of fentanyl. Rickard, who has a prior felony DUI conviction, was observed by law enforcement failing to signal a turn and running a stop sign, prompting a traffic stop that led to her arrest, according to the criminal complaint from the Dakota County Attorney’s Office.
The criminal complaint states that during the traffic stop by Inver Grove Heights Officers, officers noticed Rickard exhibiting signs of impairment, including lethargy and slurred speech. A subsequent check of her driver’s license revealed it had been canceled as "inimical to public safety." Suspecting she was under the influence of a controlled substance, officers arrested Rickard. They transported her to a nearby police station, where it was alleged she failed multiple field sobriety tests.
A search warrant was obtained for Rickard’s blood or urine, and a urine test allegedly confirmed the presence of fentanyl, a potent Schedule II controlled substance. According to court records and the criminal complaint, Rickard's criminal history revealed a prior felony DUI conviction from 2022, for which she was still on probation at the time of her recent arrest. This latest incident marks her alleged fifth DUI-related offense involving controlled substances since 2016.
According to the Dakota County Attorney’s Office criminal complaint, Prosecutors have charged Rickard with alleged first-degree driving while impaired, a felony offense that carries a potential sentence of three to seven years in prison and a fine ranging from $4,200 to $14,000. Court records show a significant bail was requested due to Rickard's alleged ongoing threat to public safety. Court records show that authorities cited the alleged discovery of drug paraphernalia and suspected controlled substance residue in her purse during the arrest as further evidence of her continued alleged drug use.
On August 22, 2024, a judge set bail at $50,000 with conditions or $80,000 without conditions. Rickard's next court appearance is scheduled for October 2, 2024, at 1:30 PM in Hastings, Minnesota, where an omnibus hearing will take place to determine the next steps in her case. As of writing this article, Richkard has not posted bail and remains in Dakota County Jail.
This article provides an overview of the allegations against Rickard, detailing the charges, evidence, and potential legal outcomes. The community is reminded that charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Further updates on this case will depend on the progress of the legal proceedings.
Written by: Will Wight
