Robbinsdale Council Member Charged with Fleeing Police Resigns
Robbinsdale City Council Member Tyler Kline Resigns
The Robbinsdale City Council member accused of driving drunk, causing a hit-and-run crash and fleeing police while driving the wrong way has submitted his resignation. The decision by Tyler Kline to resign comes after a petition to recall the council member was submitted last Friday.
“This was not an easy decision to make, but the right one for me and my family,” said Kline in his resignation letter. “The past year and a half on the council has been very rewarding. I’ve enjoyed working with you and serving the community. I have regrets about why I am resigning, but my past mistakes won’t keep me from being my best.”
The letter was submitted to Robbinsdale Mayor Bill Blonigan and other council members. The wrong-way police arrest occurred Jan. 24.
According to the criminal complaint:
Kline drove the wrong way causing an accident near northbound Highway 100 and Brooklyn Boulevard. He then left the scene and continued to travel southbound on the northbound lanes of Highway 100. A Crystal police officer noticed the driver heading the wrong the way and tried to block him, but Kline drove around the officer, the complaint said.
Police later had to smash into Kline’s minivan to get him to stop. Kline continued to refuse to obey orders before his arrest, police said in the complaint. The council member pleaded not guilty to the charges. His trial is expected to begin June 6.
This was not an easy decision to make, but the right one for me and my family. The past year and a half on the council has been very rewarding. I’ve enjoyed working with you and serving the community. I have regrets about why I am resigning, but my past mistakes won’t keep me from being my best.”
-Tyler Kline
“We’re not going to accept that”
Robbinsdale residents collected signatures on a petition calling for a recall of Kline. The city charter says residents have 30 days to collect signatures from 25 percent of registered voters in Ward 1 to trigger a recall. It turned out the effort met the threshold.
“We’re not going to accept that,” said Regan Murphy, a former Robbinsdale mayor and one of the residents who worked on the petition effort. “We’re not going to accept our local representative not having consequences for his actions. We wanted to hold him to a higher standard. We decided instead of talking about it or complaining about it, we wanted to do something about it.”
Kline was first elected in 2020 to represent Ward 1. His term runs until the end of 2024.
The Robbinsdale City Council is now expected to call for a special election to fill the remainder of that term. Its next council meeting is June 7. The special election would likely happen this fall.
Regan Murphy submits signatures for recall petition last Friday
Also See: Robbinsdale City Council Member Tyler Kline Explains ‘Not Guilty’ Plea
