A Minnesota dentist known for allegedly illegally killing a beloved and protected lion during a 2015 big game hunt in Africa was recently arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI), according to multiple recently published stories.
Walter Palmer. Image courtesy of River Bluff Dental.
Dr. Walter Palmer, known for reportedly paying $50,000 to engage in a hunt that resulted in the death of Cecil the Lion in Zimbabwe in 2015, was arrested on May 26 and charged with DWI, careless driving, and obstructing the legal process in Minnesota.
Palmer, who operates River Bluff Dental in Bloomington, MN, was arrested after he was stopped on May 26 for allegedly driving his Porshe erratically. Another driver reported to police that a vehicle driven by Palmer allegedly was driving all over the road and hitting curbs, according to the stories.
When police confronted Palmer in his driveway, he allegedly denied his erratic driving and told police that they had not seen him driving. Authorities claimed that Palmer smelled of alcohol and asked him how much he had been drinking. Palmer allegedly responded “none,” added that his vehicle had been parked at home for 20 minutes, and wanted a lawyer, according to the articles.
Furthermore, Palmer reportedly walked away from the police when they asked him to perform a field sobriety test. An officer allegedly grabbed him, and they got into a physical struggle. Police obtained a warrant to have Palmer’s blood tested, but he refused, according to the stories.
In July 2015, Palmer allegedly paid more than $50,000 to participate in a hunt in Zimbabwe. During the hunt, the dentist killed Cecil the Lion, a popular lion at Hwange National Park that was studied by researchers at Oxford University, with a bow and arrow. Despite outrage over the kill, Palmer was never charged in Africa or the U.S. for killing the lion.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
