The St. Paul motorist suspected of being impaired and on his cellphone when he fatally struck a runner was released from the Ramsey County jail Friday.
A decision on whether to charge Peter H. Berge, 60, in the death of Scott A. Spoo, is months away as investigators await the results of toxicology tests, a spokesman for the Hennepin County attorney's office said Friday afternoon.
The case is being moved to the neighboring county because Berge is a past supporter and contributor to Ramsey County Attorney John Choi's campaign committee.
Chuck Laszewski, spokesman for the Hennepin County attorney's office, said that once the toxicology "testing is complete, we will be in a position to make a charging decision." Laszewski said getting those results "is expected to take several months."
Numerous messages were left Friday with Berge, seeking his response to the allegations.
Berge, of St. Paul, was driving early Wednesday evening on Mississippi River Boulevard when he struck Scott A. Spoo, 35, of Woodbury, an avid runner and cyclist who was in the crosswalk at Dayton Avenue, police said. Spoo died at the scene.
Along with possibly being impaired by either drugs or alcohol, Berge also may have been distracted by his cellphone, according to police.
Berge was arrested soon after the incident and released from jail at 9:20 a.m. Friday as investigators continued their work.
