Minnesota State Rep. Arrested For DWI In White Bear Lake

WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN — Elliot Engen, a 27-year-old Republican who represents a north metro district, was arrested early Friday on suspicion of driving while impaired, according to the White Bear Lake Police Department.

Officers conducted a traffic stop around 1:51 a.m. near the intersection of 4th Street and Otter Lake Road after observing multiple violations, including speeding, expired registration, and an inoperable headlight, police said.

Engen was taken into custody and transported to the White Bear Lake Police Department, where a breath test showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.13, more than the legal limit.

He was booked into the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center on a charge of fourth-degree DWI and later released. The case has been forwarded to the city’s prosecuting attorney for review.

"I’m extremely disappointed to learn of Rep. Engen’s arrest," House Speaker Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, said in a statement.

"I will be working to gather information about the circumstances of his arrest and charges and will address this directly with Rep. Engen and consider further consequences as the legal process unfolds."

Engen is running for state auditor.

The arrest creates a notable parallel with DFL state auditor candidate Dan Wolgamott of St. Cloud, who pleaded guilty to a DWI offense in 2023, KSTP reported.

When Wolgamott launched his campaign last year, Engen criticized his opponent’s past conviction.

"The DFL has been drunk at the wheel in protecting taxpayers from systemic fraud," Engen wrote in a social media post at the time.