Henderson city attorney apologizes for ‘misconduct’ after DUI arrest

By Jackie Valley

Published Monday, May 23, 2011 | 8:13 p.m.

Updated Tuesday, May 24, 2011 | 5:07 p.m.

Henderson city attorney Elizabeth Quillin allegedly admitted to drinking "bottles of wine" prior to her arrest for driving under the influence Monday afternoon, according to a police report released Tuesday.

Quillin, 51, was booked into the Henderson Detention Center at 3:57 p.m. Monday on misdemeanor charges of DUI-first offense, leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and having an open container in a vehicle.

"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 said in statement released Tuesday.

Quillin, who earns $190,000 a year, is on paid administrative leave pending a criminal and internal city investigation, city spokesman Bud Cranor said.

It's unclear where Quillin was headed or coming from prior to the crash, but she had not submitted any requests for time off from work on Monday, Cranor said.

Mayor Andy Hafen gave a statement Tuesday afternoon 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," Hafen said.

Henderson Police responded to a crash Monday near the intersection of Paseo Verde Parkway and Carnegie Drive, where Quillin allegedly drove her Lexus RX400 off the road and across landscaping before striking a fire hydrant, a large boulder and a tree, according to the arrest report.

A witness approached the Lexus but told police Quillin reversed her vehicle, backed away from a tree and drove forward, nearly striking her, the report says.

Quillin then continued driving south on Carnegie Drive, but sideswiped the witness' parked vehicle and the raised curb before ultimately striking another tree, police noted in the report.

Other witnesses told police Quillin tried to drive away again, but her car was too damaged so she exited and appeared to be walking away, according to the arrest report.

The witnesses caught up with Quillin and noticed an odor of alcohol and told authorities it was "obvious she was drunk," police said in the report.

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

Police recovered an open bottle of Chardonnay wine in the back seat and saw a large amount of spilled liquid on the front floor by the driver's seat, officials said.

Quillin spent about 11 1/2 hours in custody before being released from jail at 2:49 a.m. Tuesday, according to court documents.

Jail records indicate the case was set to go before a judge on Wednesday. Bond was set at $3,516.

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

Before her appointment, she served in the City Attorney's Office's civil division beginning in 2007. From 2005 to 2007, Quillin served as the Clark County assistant manager.

Sun reporter Paul Takahashi contributed to this report.