A Minnesota State Capitol security officer who posed as an undercover cop while intoxicated at a Minneapolis bar has been sentenced to house arrest after pleading guilty to fourth-degree DWI.
Cristian Orea, 39, will spend just under a month on house arrest and then serve two years of probation, according to court records. If he meets all sentencing requirements, a charge of impersonating a peace officer will be dismissed. Prosecutors also dropped two additional charges at Monday’s hearing—third-degree DWI and carrying a pistol while under the influence.
According to the complaint, Minneapolis police responded to Puerto Veracruzano just after midnight on July 14. Bar security reported that a man—later identified as Orea—claimed he was an undercover officer conducting a “narcotics investigation” and appeared intoxicated.
Security staff said Orea had a firearm and displayed a photo of a badge labeled “State Patrol.” When staff told him he could not enter the bar while armed and intoxicated, Orea allegedly accused them of interfering with his investigation. He then stepped in when two customers tried to leave without paying, placing his hand on his firearm and claiming he could arrest them. Witnesses said he continued identifying himself as an officer to people inside the bar.
A security guard contacted a Minneapolis police officer they knew, who confirmed Orea was not with their department and advised them to call 911. Orea left the bar before officers arrived, but police soon found him in a parked vehicle a block away. He drove off, and officers pulled him over a few blocks south.
The complaint says Orea refused field sobriety tests and later declined blood and urine testing after a search warrant was issued, telling officers, “just arrest me.” Investigators found a receipt on his phone from a tavern on Hiawatha Avenue, showing he had closed his tab roughly 90 minutes before arriving at Puerto Veracruzano.
Soon after charges were filed, the Minnesota State Patrol—responsible for Capitol security—placed Orea on leave.
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