Former Minneapolis Council Member Faces DWI Conviction After Police Abolition Stance
In a striking turn of events, a former Minneapolis City Council member who previously championed the abolition of the police force has found herself on the wrong side of the law. Alondra Espejel, 44, has been convicted on criminal charges following a drunk driving incident that occurred last autumn, creating an embarrassing contradiction with her past political advocacy.
The Incident and Arrest
The situation unfolded in late October when Minneapolis Police Department officers responded to reports of a collision shortly after 11pm. According to official documents, another individual informed officers that Espejel had struck their parked vehicle. When police approached her, the former council member refused to identify herself or provide her driver's licence and proof of insurance.
Witnesses reported observing Espejel speeding down a street while honking aggressively at the car in front of her. She subsequently stopped behind a line of traffic, pulled out from the queue, and collided with another vehicle. Police documentation indicates that after her refusal to cooperate, Espejel attempted to put her vehicle in drive and flee the scene.
Evidence of Intoxication
Officers noted multiple signs of impairment during their interaction with the former public official. They observed that her eyes were bloodshot, her speech was noticeably slurred, and she emitted a distinct smell of alcohol. After repeated demands for her to exit her vehicle went unheeded, police physically removed Espejel and placed her in a squad car.
The situation escalated during sobriety testing procedures. According to the complaint, Espejel made sexually explicit comments about oral sex while an officer was attempting to explain the Breath Test Advisory. She ultimately refused to submit to a breathalyser test, leading to her arrest on third and fourth-degree charges of driving while intoxicated.
Legal Consequences and Background
Espejel was released on a $6,000 bond following her arrest. She later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of refusing to submit to a breath test. The court sentenced her to two years of supervised probation, community service, and an additional $450 in fines.
This legal outcome stands in stark contrast to Espejel's previous political positions. During her tenure on the Minneapolis City Council from 2014 to 2022, she was one of nine members who pledged support for abolishing the Minneapolis Police Department. She publicly stated on social media that the MPD was not reformable, adding emphatically that change is coming.
Political History and Advocacy
Espejel's criticism of law enforcement intensified following George Floyd's death in 2020. She joined nine fellow council members at a protest where they announced their intention to redefine policing in Minneapolis. In a joint statement reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, they declared: We are here today to begin the process of ending the Minneapolis Police Department and creating a new, transformative model for cultivating safety in Minneapolis.
Before her council service, Espejel worked as an Associate Director for the Minnesota Immigrant Freedom Network. Born in Mexico, she immigrated to the United States with her family at age ten. Elected in 2013, she made history as the first Latina elected to the Minneapolis City Council and chose not to seek re-election in 2022.
During her time in office, Espejel advocated for various progressive causes, including efforts to abolish Columbus Day and establish Cultural Districts in areas with high populations of people of colour and immigrants. In 2023, she joined Minnesota Representative Dean Phillips' presidential campaign.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Espejel and her representatives for comment on her conviction and how it relates to her previous positions on policing.
