A case against a veteran Hastings police officer accused of stealing a corkscrew from a Green Mill restaurant has enough evidence to go to trial, a judge has ordered, denying a request to dismiss the charge.
Rene Roderick Doffing, 48, was charged with misdemeanor theft for allegedly stealing the wine opener - estimated to cost $4 to $10 - from the Hastings restaurant in November 2010, according to Dakota County court records.
"This case is about a $4 object that Officer Doffing did not take," said his attorney, Paul Engh, on Tuesday. "The public's attention should be directed, instead, to the cost of this absurd prosecution. Sadly, much has been made of nothing."
Doffing, who has been a member of the Hastings Police Department for 18 years, will remain on non-uniform paid administrative assignment until the criminal case is resolved, Hastings Police Chief Paul Schnell has said. If convicted, Doffing could lose his police officer's license.
Last week, District Judge Michael Mayer denied a defense motion to dismiss the case after a hearing last month in which witnesses - including three police officers - testified for the prosecution and the defense.
The judge also ruled a jury could believe either side's testimony and that the witnesses' credibility would be determined at trial. In the order, Mayer said Doffing did not have to leave the restaurant's property for a theft to take place - an argument that the defense has used.
An off-duty Dakota County sheriff's deputy saw the alleged theft, according to a criminal complaint. Deputy Bryce Schuenke, who did not know Doffing was a police officer, reported what he saw to uniformed Hastings officers, who were having a union meeting in a private room at the restaurant.
While explaining the story, Doffing confronted Schuenke, the charge said.
Doffing reached into his pocket, pulled out the corkscrew and said, "They said I could have it," the complaint said. Restaurant staffers, who were looking for the corkscrew, told police Doffing did not ask for the corkscrew and they did not give him permission to take it.
Doffing gave the item back after the restaurant's manager asked for it, the complaint said. A Green Mill worker reported the incident to police.
In November, Doffing's personnel file was reviewed as part of the case to determine if there was evidence of bias or animosity toward him on the part of other Hastings police officers. Mayer ruled there was no bias found and no evidence of conspiracy against Doffing to remove him from the police force.
Doffing also is facing other allegations.
He is accused of failing to stop for a school bus stop-arm in December, passing the stopped bus with a child outside, at East Second and Sibley streets in Hastings. He is scheduled to appear in court next month on a misdemeanor charge and a gross misdemeanor charge.
Doffing also was reprimanded by the city after he admitted to sleeping on the job in October. Doffing reportedly fell asleep while waiting for squad cars to be worked on at Hastings Ford. The city was alerted after someone snapped a photo of him.
Doffing was fired from the Hastings police department after a 2007 incident in which he was alleged to have chased down a bar customer and hit him with his squad car while on duty. Doffing was later reinstated, and prosecutors dropped charges against him.
Maricella Miranda can be reached at 651-228-5421. Follow her at twitter.com/mariwritesnews .
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