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New Brighton mayor charged with DWI

Prosecutors say 60-year-old Valerie Jean Johnson was speeding, doing 54 miles per hour in a 40 mph zone when officers stopped her early Sunday.
Credit: Ramsey County Sheriff
New Brighton Mayor Valerie Johnson is charged with DWI after being pulled over early Sunday morning.

NEW BRIGHTON, Minn. — The mayor of New Brighton is charged with two counts of DWI after being pulled over Jan. 20. 

Prosecutors say 60-year-old Valerie Jean Johnson was speeding, doing 54 miles per hour in a 40 mph zone when officers stopped her early Sunday. Johnson's Toyota Rav4 also had expired tabs.

The officer who pulled Johnson over said her breath smelled of alcohol and her eyes were red and watery. New Brighton Police say the mayor failed field sobriety tests, and a preliminary breath test showed her alcohol concentration at .17, more than twice the legal level for driving. 

On Tuesday Johnson made a statement at the City Council Meeting, apologizing for her decisions that night. "There is no question that I was reckless and made a significant error in judgment that night, potentially risking the safety of others and myself," Johnson said in her prepared statement. "I am ready to accept the consequences of my actions, and I intend to take steps to ensure that I never make this mistake again."

"I would like to apologize to members of the City Council, our great staff here with the City of New Brighton and the residents of this wonderful community," Johnson continued. "As Mayor, I hold myself to a high standard of conduct, and I failed to meet that standard on Saturday night. People have a right to be disappointed in my behavior, just as I am, but I hope we can continue to work together and achieve our hopes for the City of New Brighton."

Johnson pleaded guilty to the charges against her Tuesday. 

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