Minnesota Man Convicted of Driving Zamboni While Drunk

An Apple Valley man convicted of driving a Zamboni while intoxicated at an ice arena has been sentenced to two years of probation.

Thirty-four-year-old Joel Keith Bruss pleaded guilty this week to misdemeanor drunken driving. Three other charges were dismissed.

Prosecutors say witnesses called police Jan. 30 to report Bruss driving the ice-cleaning machine erratically at Hayes Arena. Police arrived and found the Zamboni stuck halfway off the ice.

Investigators say Bruss submitted to a urine test, which detected a blood-alcohol level four times the legal limit for driving.

Defense attorney Mark McDonough declined comment to the St. Paul Pioneer Press after Thursday’s hearing.

Online court records show that Bruss was convicted of driving while intoxicated once in 2002 and twice in 1999.