Ex-Minneapolis council member Espejel charged with 3rd-degree DWI refusal; $6K bond, Nov. 13 hearing

📌 Key Facts

Former Minneapolis City Council member Espejel was involved in a crash just before 11:15 p.m. on the 300 block of 4th Street South (outside City Hall) involving a Honda CR-V.
A witness reported the CR-V was honking and accelerating before striking a parked vehicle.
Police say Espejel recorded officers, refused to provide her license and insurance, then put the vehicle in drive and attempted to leave before an officer opened the door and shut off the engine.
Officers observed slurred speech and bloodshot eyes; she initially refused to exit the vehicle and was placed in a squad car.
Field sobriety tests were begun but terminated by officers for safety after she could not maintain her balance.
At the police station she refused a breath test unless a lawyer was present, made no attempt to contact one, and—after being read the implied-consent/breath-test advisory—claimed not to understand parts of it and made inappropriate remarks during the MPD Chem Test advisory.
Charges filed include third-degree DWI (refusal to submit to a breath test) and fourth-degree DWI (driving under the influence).
Espejel was released on $6,000 bond; her first court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 13, 2025.

Social media users highlight the irony of Espejel's past support for defunding or abolishing the Minneapolis police department, now facing arrest by the same force she criticized, adding a layer of perceived hypocrisy not emphasized in mainstream reports.
Discussions on X often connect this incident to broader patterns of lenient sentencing for DUI offenders in Minnesota, citing cases where sentences were stayed or offenders were bailed out, which mainstream coverage overlooks in favor of isolated event details.
Perspectives on X emphasize Espejel's role in policies that allegedly contributed to rising crime in Minneapolis, framing her arrest as a symbol of failed progressive leadership, a context absent from neutral mainstream narratives.
Users on X draw parallels to other DUI crashes involving undocumented immigrants or non-English speakers, raising questions about immigration status and enforcement, which are not addressed in the provided mainstream articles.
X posts frequently criticize bail funds and judicial decisions that allow repeat offenders back on the streets, using Espejel's case to argue for stricter accountability, a systemic critique missing from the factual focus of mainstream media.

Based on 2 sources

Alpha News MN by Crime Watch MN October 31, 2025

New information:

Specific charges filed: third-degree DWI (refusal to submit to a breath test) and fourth-degree DWI (under the influence).
Espejel was released Thursday on $6,000 bond.
First court appearance is scheduled for Nov. 13, 2025.
Additional detail: incident occurred outside City Hall; article notes she made inappropriate remarks during the breath-test advisory at MPD Chem Test.

FOX 9 Minneapolis-St. Paul by Kilat.Fitzgerald@fox.com (Kilat Fitzgerald) October 30, 2025

New information:

Crash occurred just before 11:15 p.m. on the 300 block of 4th Street South; vehicle identified as a Honda CR-V.
Police say Espejel recorded officers, refused to provide license/insurance, then put the vehicle in drive and attempted to leave before an officer opened the door and shut off the engine.
Officers observed slurred speech and bloodshot eyes; she initially refused to exit the vehicle and was placed in a squad car.
Witness reported the CR-V was honking and accelerating before striking the parked vehicle.
Field sobriety tests were started but terminated by officers for safety due to her inability to maintain balance.
At the station, she refused a breath test without a lawyer but made no attempt to contact one; after being read the advisory, she claimed not to understand but could not specify which part.

Paul Walsh October 30, 2025