A Minnesota state lawmaker was arrested for driving while impaired early Friday morning in White Bear Lake after a breath test showed his blood alcohol concentration was above the legal limit.
State Rep. Elliott Engen, 27, a Republican representing District 36A, was pulled over near the intersection of 4th Street and Otter Lake Road around 1:51 a.m. on March 27 after White Bear Lake police observed him speeding, driving with expired registration and an inoperable headlight, the department said.
Officers arrested Engen on suspicion of driving while impaired and transported him to the White Bear Lake Police Department, where a breath test registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.13, above the 0.08 legal limit in Minnesota.
Engen was booked into the Ramsey County Adult Detention Center on a charge of fourth-degree DWI and later released from custody. The case has been forwarded to the city's prosecuting attorney for processing.
Engen has represented District 36A since 2023. The district covers Lino Lakes, Circle Pines, White Bear Township and parts of Anoka and Ramsey counties. He announced a campaign for Minnesota State Auditor last year.
House Speaker Lisa Demuth released a statement following the arrest:
"I'm extremely disappointed to learn of Rep. Engen's arrest. 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," Demuth said Friday.
Engen's opponent in the State Auditor race, DFL state Rep. Dan Wolgamott of Saint Cloud, pleaded guilty to a DWI offense in 2023. When Wolgamott announced his auditor campaign, Engen posted on social media: "The DFL has been drunk at the wheel in protecting taxpayers from systemic fraud."
Engen has not yet released a statement on the incident.
