MN Rep. Denied Drinking Before DWI Arrest; Fellow Lawmaker Was Passenger

WHITE BEAR LAKE, MN — Elliot Engen, a 27-year-old Minnesota Republican state representative, repeatedly denied drinking and told officers he was "sober cabbing" passengers before his DWI arrest early Friday, according to police.

One of those passengers was Minnesota state Rep. Walter Hudson, who told officers he had a legally permitted concealed firearm. Police secured the weapon for safekeeping during the stop, according to the report.

The report provides new details about the March 27 traffic stop near 4th Street and Otter Lake Road, where officers initially pulled Engen over for speeding, expired registration, and an inoperable headlight.

According to the report, an officer observed Engen driving up to 44 mph in a 30 mph zone after pulling onto 4th Street from the area of White Bear Bar. When the officer approached the vehicle, he noted a strong odor of alcohol and that Engen’s eyes were "watery, glassy, and bloodshot."

"I asked if he had been drinking, and he repeatedly denied it, saying, 'No' and ‘Nothing at all,'" the officer wrote in the report.

Without being asked, Engen also told the officer, "I’m sober cabbing them," referring to passengers in the vehicle.

Officers said Engen showed multiple signs of impairment during field sobriety testing. A preliminary breath test showed a reading of 0.142.

After being arrested and taken to the White Bear Lake Police Department, Engen later acknowledged drinking, telling officers he had consumed two 12-ounce Coors Light beers earlier in the night. He also said he did not believe the alcohol affected his ability to drive.

An evidentiary breath test later showed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.13, above the legal limit.

Engen later apologized for the incident. "I’m owning it. I screwed up, and I’m willing to take the blame and have this make me better in the long run because of it," he told KARE 11.

"I don’t drink often. I don’t keep it in the house. But when I do it doesn’t mix well with me."

Republican House Speaker Lisa Demuth also responded to the incident.

"The decisions made in this incident were unacceptable and fall short of the expectations I have for conduct of legislators," Demuth said in a statement. "I will be addressing this directly with both members involved."

Engen was cited for fourth-degree DWI and speeding and was booked into the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center before being released.

The arrest comes as Engen is running for Minnesota state auditor and after he previously criticized a political opponent’s DWI conviction.