UPDATE: Bus driver charged after driving students while intoxicated

By Hayley Raatsi, Northern News Now – September 9, 2024

CULVER—The bus driver who was arrested last week for driving students while intoxicated has been formally charged. Anthony Israelson, 44, of Culver is charged with a DWI while driving a school bus and a DWI while driving under the influence.

According to the criminal complaint, on Sept. 4 just after midnight, a reporting party called 911 saying Israelson was drinking and intoxicated at Houle’igans Bar in Brookston, Minn. The caller was concerned because she knew Israelson was a bus driver and believed he could be driving kids in the morning. She stated that she was concerned that he would still be intoxicated while driving the school bus.

Authorities say at around 5:45 a.m., deputies told investigators about the situation and that Israelson was expected to begin driving his bus route sometime between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. At about 6:28 a.m., authorities went to Israelson’s house to tell him about the concerned citizen’s call. Israelson said he was off and not driving.

Then at about 7:16 a.m., investigators spoke with the bus transportation supervisors and the lead driver. They informed investigators that Israelson’s bus route began at 6:45 a.m. and that he was working. The Independent School District’s Transportation Director gave authorities Israelson’s route and stop locations.

Court documents say deputies began to follow the school bus as it was turning onto Seville Road from Highway 33. Authorities say they saw the bus drive over the double yellow center lines in a curve and continue to drive on the center line as it exited the curve. At that time, deputies pulled the bus over at Independence Road, just north of Seville Road at about 7:28 a.m.

Deputies recognized the driver as Israelson and asked him to step off the bus. Authorities say they could smell alcohol on Israelson’s breath. He was then given a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) which showed a .161 breath alcohol content. Minnesota statute states there is zero tolerance for a person to be under the influence of any amount of alcohol while operating a school bus. Israelson was then placed under arrest.

Authorities contacted ISD’s Transportation Director and advised that someone would need to complete the bus route and that there were currently children on the bus. There were 18 children on the bus ranging from kindergarten to grade 10 who went to South Ridge School.

Israelson told authorities he had an unknown number of beers at his residence before going to the Houle’igans Bar. He said he got to the bar around 8 p.m. and had two bottles of beer before leaving around 10 p.m.

Investigators then obtained a search warrant for a blood sample from Israelson. Results are pending on that test. Both of Israelson’s charges are gross misdemeanor offenses. His next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 21.