Prosecutor won’t charge Rep. Hudson in Engen DWI gun incident
On March 27 in White Bear Lake, Republican Rep. Elliott Engen was stopped and later charged with DWI after breath tests showed a .13 BAC, while passenger Rep. Walter Hudson told officers he owned a liquor bottle and was carrying a concealed 9mm pistol that police removed and held for safekeeping. Prosecutors declined to charge Hudson with carrying a firearm while impaired, saying they could not prove impairment beyond a reasonable doubt — noting he was not given a breath or chemical test — even as Engen faces a formal DWI charge.
📌 Key Facts
- On March 27, Engen was stopped by White Bear Lake police around 1:50 a.m. for speeding, expired registration and an inoperable headlight; he was arrested on suspicion of DWI and was later formally charged with fourth‑degree DWI.
- Engen, a Republican state representative from White Bear Township and a candidate for state auditor, initially denied drinking but later told officers he had two 12‑ounce Coors Light beers at the White Bear Bar between about 11:00 and 11:30 p.m.; he blew a .13 BAC on breath tests and questioned their accuracy, requesting additional testing.
- Rep. Walter Hudson was a passenger in Engen’s vehicle during the stop and told officers he owned a liquor bottle that was found tucked into a child’s car seat.
- Hudson admitted to carrying a concealed 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol; police removed the firearm and held it for “safekeeping.”
- Officers did not administer a breath or other chemical alcohol test to Hudson, a gap critics say makes it impossible to know his blood‑alcohol level while he was armed.
- On April 1, prosecutors formally declined to charge Hudson with carrying a firearm while impaired, saying the office cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he was impaired while in possession of the gun.
- The charging decision and the absence of chemical testing for Hudson have prompted criticism and raised questions about how gun‑and‑alcohol laws are enforced for political insiders versus the general public.
📊 Relevant Data
From September 1, 2002, to June 30, 2023, American Indian offenders constituted 13.5% (656) of felony DWI prison admissions in Minnesota, despite comprising approximately 1.4% of the state's population, representing a per capita overrepresentation of about 9.6 times.
Minnesota Felony Driving While Impaired Report 2023 — Minnesota Department of Corrections
From September 1, 2002, to June 30, 2023, Black offenders constituted 17.5% (851) of felony DWI prison admissions in Minnesota, despite comprising approximately 7% of the state's population, representing a per capita overrepresentation of about 2.5 times.
Minnesota Felony Driving While Impaired Report 2023 — Minnesota Department of Corrections
In Minnesota, the excessive drinking rate among American Indian/Alaska Native adults is 23.0%, compared to 20.3% for White adults and the state average of 19.4%.
Explore Excessive Drinking in Minnesota — America's Health Rankings
In Minnesota, the excessive drinking rate among Black adults is 11.5%, lower than the 20.3% for White adults and the state average of 19.4%.
Explore Excessive Drinking in Minnesota — America's Health Rankings
Minnesota law prohibits carrying a pistol in a public place while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more constituting under the influence for this offense.
Sec. 624.7142 MN Statutes — Minnesota Revisor of Statutes
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Prosecutors have formally declined to charge Rep. Walter Hudson with carrying a firearm while impaired stemming from the March 27 White Bear Lake traffic stop involving Rep. Elliott Engen.
- The charging decision is based on the legal standard for proving that Hudson was impaired while in possession of the gun, which the office says it cannot meet beyond a reasonable doubt.
- The article notes that Hudson was never given a breath test or similar chemical test, a gap critics say makes it impossible to know how drunk he actually was while armed.
- The piece includes on‑the‑record explanation from the prosecutor’s office about why Hudson walks while Engen faces a DWI charge, sharpening questions about how gun‑and‑alcohol laws are enforced for political insiders versus everyone else.
- White Bear Lake police report identifies Rep. Walter Hudson as a passenger in Engen’s vehicle during the March 27 DWI stop.
- Hudson admitted to owning a liquor bottle found tucked into a child’s car seat and told officers he was carrying a concealed 9mm Smith & Wesson pistol.
- Police removed Hudson’s gun and held it for 'safekeeping' but the report shows no indication officers tested his blood alcohol level, despite Engen saying Hudson had been drinking and Minnesota’s .04 BAC limit for carrying.
- The report details Engen initially claimed to be 'sober cabbing,' denied drinking, then later admitted to having two 12‑ounce Coors Lights at White Bear Bar between 11:00 and 11:30 p.m.
- Engen’s clothing was described as disheveled with his shirt half unbuttoned, and he ultimately blew a .13 BAC on breath tests, later questioning the accuracy and requesting additional testing at the Ramsey County Law Enforcement Center.
- Confirms that Rep. Elliott Engen has now been formally charged with DWI, not just arrested on suspicion.
- Reiterates that Rep. Walter Hudson was the armed passenger in the vehicle at the time of the stop, underscoring that two sitting lawmakers were involved in the same incident.
- Provides Alpha News’ framing and emphasis, which may include additional quotes or political spin, but appears to rely on the same basic police-report facts already reported elsewhere.
- The Alpha News piece largely reiterates that Engen was stopped around 1:50 a.m. in White Bear Lake for speeding, expired registration, and an inoperable headlight, then arrested on suspicion of DWI with a reported BAC of 0.13.
- It confirms his status as a Republican legislator from White Bear Township and a candidate for State Auditor.
- It reiterates that he was booked on a pending fourth-degree DWI and later released; formal charges were still pending at the time of reporting.