From staff reports
A Rochester police officer facing misdemeanor charges stemming from a traffic accident last November has asked for a jury trial.
The request came during a pretrial hearing late this morning in Olmsted District Court. Minneapolis attorney Peter Wold asked for the jury trial on behalf of Sylvia Jo Quirk, who is charged with failing to obey a traffic control device, in this case a red light.
Wold also told Judge Dennis Weber that he intends to file a motion to suppress some of the evidence. He did not elaborate.
Albert Lea City Attorney Steve Schwab, who is the special prosecutor in the case, did not attend the hearing.
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The trial is now set for Aug. 14.
Quirk has pleaded not guilty to the charge. She is accused of failing to stop for a red light at the intersection of East Circle Drive and Viola Road Northeast near Century High School the morning of Nov. 11 while responding to a burglary call at Schaeffer Academy. Quirk was eastbound and collided with a pickup driven by Scott Thomas Threinen, 20, of Mantorville. Quirk, Threinen and his passenger, Samuel Wilke, 19, of Mantorville, all were injured.
