Eagan Mayor Drove Drunk, Hit Snowbank: Police

EAGAN, MN — Eagan's fourth-term mayor, Mike Maguire, is accused of driving drunk before hitting a snowbank on the evening Jan. 11, police say. Maguire, 52, now faces two counts of gross misdemeanor third-degree driving while impaired.

Eagan police found a Mazda SUV that went over the curb and became stuck in the snow at Dakota Path and Shadow Creek Curve. The car's engine was still running when officers arrived, according to City Pages.

Police smelled alcohol coming from Maguire, who was in the driver's seat, and he had slurred speech and his eyes were bloodshot and glassy, according to the criminal complaint.

Maguire failed the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus eye test, police said. The mayor refused other field sobriety tests, the Pioneer Press reports.

He was swaying and staggering and could not walk on his own, authorities said. He also needed help getting into a seat in the squad car, the criminal complaint states.

Police say a breath test showed Maguire had a blood-alcohol content of 0.19 percent, more than twice the legal limit to drive in Minnesota.

This case is being prosecuted through the Hastings city attorney’s office in order to avoid a conflict of interest. If convicted, Maguire faces a maximum sentence of up to one year in jail and a $3,000 fine.

According to Minnesota court records, Maguire's only criminal history is a parking and a speeding ticket.