Pastors Arrested for Drunken Driving

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Two Olivet pastors arrested in Fargo on suspicion of drunken driving

By Dave Roepke, INFORUM
January 13 2011

FARGO (N.D.) – Fargo police arrested two pastors from Olivet Lutheran Church early today on suspicion of drunken driving after one pastor got stuck in a snow bank and a second one arrived to help.

Kristopher M. Gorden, 44, 1002 Park Drive S., was turning from 25th Street South on the eastbound ramp of Interstate 94 when he slid into the snow, Sgt. Mark Lykken said.

After police had already arrived at Gorden’s vehicle shortly after 1 a.m., Jeffery Sandgren, 50, 3317 Parkview Lane S., also pulled up to help out Gorden and had contact with police, Lykken said.

Both men were arrested and transported to the Cass County Jail. Sandgren bailed out at 3:20 a.m., and Gorden at 5:41 a.m., according to a jail official.

Sandgren and Gorden are both pastors at Olivet Lutheran Church, according to the church’s website.

A woman who answered the phone at Olivet Lutheran said this morning that church officials would have no comment.

Sandgren declined to comment when reached by phone this afternoon. A woman who answered the phone at Gorden's residence said he wouldn't comment on the matter, either.

A third person was also arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after she also pulled up to the scene at 1:20 a.m.: Kayla Dronen, 25, of 4014 3rd St. S. in Moorhead.

Though police initially said they believed Dronen also knew Sandgren and Gorden, Lykken said late this afternoon that's not the case.

"It appears she just happened to be going by," Lykken said.

Other than accidents, it’s rare for three drivers to be arrested at the same scene for driving under the influence, Lykken said.

“I don’t recall three in Fargo this way before,” he said.

[John81]

That would be funny if it were not for the horrible testimony and witness it presents.

What good ever comes from drinking alcohol outside of doing so for truly medicinal purposes?

[trc123]

Unless they actually caught the pastors in the car drunk (or have other strong evidence - like their confession), they are going to have difficult time establishing that they didn't just get stuck and decided to have a nip while digging the car out.......

[John81]

Unless they actually caught the pastors in the car drunk (or have other strong evidence - like their confession), they are going to have difficult time establishing that they didn't just get stuck and decided to have a nip while digging the car out.......

Oh, yeah, that would make much better press and look great in the courtroom! They will probably try to get this put behind them as quietly and quickly as they can.

[JerryNumbers]

Unless they actually caught the pastors in the car drunk (or have other strong evidence - like their confession), they are going to have difficult time establishing that they didn't just get stuck and decided to have a nip while digging the car out.......

I can see the head line now.

Lutheran Pastor Denise DWI, the article goes on to say

"Lutheran pastor denies driving while drunk and says that he only took a few sips from his bottle after he got stuck in the snow while turning from 25th Street South on the eastbound ramp of Interstate 94."

And of course the police were already on the scene when the 2nd Lutheran pastor got there and saw him getting out of the drivers seat, yet maybe he to can convince everyone that he only secretly drank form his bottle after he got out of the drivers seat after stopping to help his pastor friend.

[1Timothy115]

Sad.