No prison for man who was drunk when he hit 2 people on Columbia Heights sidewalk, killing 1 of them

Less than a year in jail is the sentence for a 36-year-old man who was drunk when he hit two people on a Columbia Heights sidewalk, killing one of them.

Cody J. Jazdzewski of Minneapolis was sentenced Monday in Anoka County District Court after pleading guilty to criminal vehicular homicide in connection with the crash on July 12, 2023, near the the intersection of Central and 39th avenues NE.

Judge Suzanne Brown set aside a four-year term and sentenced Jazdzewski to 364 days in jail, with credit for four days served after his arrest. His sentence includes five years’ supervised release and requires him to attend a sober support group once a week and submit to testing for chemical abuse.

The crash killed Carrie Lynn Rivero, 58, of Minneapolis, who died at the scene. James Junior Beller, 64, also of Minneapolis, was hit and survived critical injuries.

Ahead of sentencing, Jazdzewski’s supervisor in the field of mental health, wrote to the court and asked the judge for leniency.

“The success of our company and the well-being of those we serve relies heavily on the skills and dedication of Cody,” Nathan Larson told the court. “Without his continued contributions, our ability to provide effective support to those in need would be severely compromised. ... I respectfully ask that you consider the full scope of his character and the profound good he has done, and can continue to do, when determining his sentence.”

According to the State Patrol and the criminal complaint:

Jazdzewski was driving a BMW convertible south on Central Avenue shortly after 10:30 p.m. when he left the road and hit Rivero and Beller. The car came to rest at a tree line. The patrol said a road wet from rain might have been another factor in the crash.

A state trooper noticed that Jazdzewski had bloodshot and watery eyes, and his speech was slurred. A preliminary breath test at the scene measured his blood alcohol content at 0.131%, more than 1½ times the legal limit for driving in Minnesota.