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Video: Drunk Zamboni driver poorly resurfaces ice before arrest

Apple Valley Zamboni driver charged with DWI had blood-alcohol level of 0.32, police say

By Jessica Fleming
St. Paul Pioneer Press

APPLE VALLEY, Minn. — The Apple Valley man who allegedly drove a Zamboni while drunk in January had a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.32, according to charges filed this week in Dakota County District Court.

Joel K. Bruss, 34, faces four charges, three gross misdemeanors and one misdemeanor, of driving while impaired in the Jan. 30 incident in which parents at an Apple Valley ice arena called police to report Bruss was driving a Zamboni erratically.

When police arrived at Hayes Arena, Bruss had gotten the Zamboni stuck half on and half off the ice, according to the complaint.

Bruss eventually got the machine free and when police confronted him, he admitted to drinking at his home before coming to work at the arena. Bruss told police he had driven to work in his personal vehicle.

Bruss' speech was slurred and hard to understand, and he had a hard time keeping his balance, according to the complaint.

He was arrested and submitted to a urine test, which later revealed the 0.32 concentration. The legal limit to drive in Minnesota is 0.08.

Witnesses at the arena told police that before they arrived, Bruss had been stumbling around and missed some spots on the ice the first time he attempted to resurface it.

When he tried a second time, witnesses had to tell him to turn on the water. According to the complaint, one witness said Bruss drove the Zamboni into the boards of the rink so hard that the machine bounced back about 6 feet.

At the time, Apple Valley parks and recreation director Randy Johnson said there was no damage to the arena.

Bruss, who has been suspended from his part-time job, has worked for the city for 15 years, Johnson said.

According to court records, Bruss was convicted of driving while intoxicated once in 2002 and twice in 1999.

Bruss did not return a phone message Thursday seeking comment.