Charges: Driver Under Influence Of Synthetic Drug

ROSEMOUNT (AP) - A prosecutor says a Rochester man may be the state's first person charged with driving under the influence of a synthetic drug.

Forty-six-year-old Michael Andrist was arrested near Rosemount Sunday after a brief chase.

Witnesses say Andrist was traveling about 70 mph on Highway 72 and was driving in and out of the ditch.

Officer say Andrist passed an alcohol breath test, but allegedly admitted to injecting bath salts. Minnesota's ban on synthetic drugs took effect July 1.

The substances, which have similar effects to LSD or marijuana, have triggered similar state laws around the country.

Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom says he knows of no similar prosecutions involving a driver charged under the new law.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)