MANTORVILLE — Mantorville Mayor Luke Nash, who also is a Dodge County sheriff's deputy, was arrested by the Minnesota State Patrol last week for suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Nash's vehicle went off the road and crashed into a pole near Dodge County Roads 34 and 9 at about 4:40 a.m. Feb. 10, according to Lt. Eric Roeske, a public information officer for the state patrol. The trooper responding to the incident believed Nash was alcohol impaired based on his observations, and a preliminary breath test indicated Nash's blood-alcohol level was over the legal limit, Roeske said.
Nash was not issued a citation. The Dodge County Attorney's Office will decide whether to bring charges when the state patrol investigation is complete. Results of a urine test will be available in two or three weeks.
Nash, who has been with the department for 18 years, was not on duty today. Lisa Hager, director of Dodge County's employee relations department, said she couldn't release information about his employment status.
Dodge County Sheriff Jim Jensen said he didn't know whether Nash has been suspended from his duties while the investigation continues and said he was not sure what would happen if the test determines that Nash was driving while intoxicated.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Just like anybody else, if he's charged, he's going to go through the court process, and at the end of that, the county has to make a determination of what will happen," Jensen said, speaking from a conference in the Twin Cities, where he is receiving new sheriff's training.
Mantorville City Council member Jim Maxson said he's unsure how Nash's status as mayor would be.
"I'm sure there would be consequences, ... but depending upon what the situation was, ... I don't think we'd be doing anything about it. But then, that's just my thoughts," he said.
He said Nash was present at Monday's city council meeting and nothing was said about the arrest.
