ABQ councilor's aid arrested for DWI

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - More trouble behind the wheel for an Albuquerque city councilor's right-hand woman.

The well-paid city worker was popped again for DWI early Thursday morning.

Elizabeth Shields told police she was following her friend home because he had too much too drink, but in the end they both ended up in jail.

City councilors appoint their assistants, and Trudy Jones chose Shields after she was elected in late 2007.

Police pulled Shields over near Carlisle and Constitution because she was following a car too closely.

Shields told police she was following her friend who had too much to drink.

It turns out police thought the same about her.

Shields told police she had some beer, wine and an anti-anxiety pill that night.

Shields said she was not drunk, but tired.

According to the police report she admitted she did make a poor decision to get behind the wheel.

She blew under the legal limit, but still police thought she had no business driving.

Shields pled guilty to her first DWI in 2007.

Trudy Jones told News 13 on the phone she did not know about her assistant's DWI history before she hired her.

Even so, city councilor assistants do not need to go through a background check since they are handpicked by the city councilors.

Assistants to city councilors make around $52,000 a year.

Trudy Jones said she needs more information before she decides if she will fire Elizabeth Shields.

News 13 tried to contact Shields at home, but no one answered the door.

The man Shields was following home was hauled off to jail with her.

Police arrested him for aggravated DWI.