MAY 2011, Henderson, Nevada—Henderson city attorney Elizabeth Quillin was arrested for driving under the influence and has allegedly admitted to drinking “bottles of wine” prior to her arrest. 

Quillin, 51, was booked on misdemeanor charges of DUI-first offense, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and having an open container in a vehicle. Quillin released a statement, “I would like to apologize to the Mayor, City Council, my colleagues, family and friends for my misconduct and assume full responsibility for my actions. I am seeking immediate treatment from an inpatient facility and ask that I be allowed this time of privacy in order to address my underlying illness,” Quillin, who earns $190,000 a year, is on paid administrative leave pending a criminal and internal city investigation, city spokesman Bud Cranor said.

Quillin had not submitted any requests for time off from work as of Monday, but Mayor Andy Hafen provided a statement announcing that senior assistant city attorney Christine Guerci-Nyhus has been named acting city attorney.

“Obviously due to the seriousness and sensitivity of this situation, there will be a thorough investigation, both criminally and internally, and Liz will remain on administrative leave pending the results of those investigations,” Mayor Hafen responded.

According to the arrest report, Henderson Police responded to a crash where Quillin allegedly drove her Lexus RX400 off the road and across landscaping before striking a fire hydrant, a large boulder and a tree. A witness approached but Quillin reversed her Lexus, backed away from a tree and drove forward, nearly striking her, the report says.

The police arrest report noted that Quillin then continued driving and sideswiped the witness' parked vehicle and the raised curb before ultimately striking another tree, Additional witnesses told police that Quillin tried to drive away again, but her car was too damaged. She exited the vehicle and appeared to be walking away.

When witnesses caught up with Quillin and noticed an odor of alcohol and told authorities it was “obvious she was drunk,″.

When police interviewed Quillin at the scene, said she had consumed "bottles of wine" saying "Yes, I'm (expletive) up," according to the arrest report. She failed the field sobriety test, police said.

Quillin was appointed city attorney in June 2009. According to the city's website, she supervises the civil and criminal divisions of the City Attorney's Office,