Another 3rd-Offense OWI Suspect Arrested in Tosa

As we head into the long Thanksgiving weekend, here's another sobering reminder that there will be drivers on the streets who shouldn't be – not just those who imbibe a bit too much on a holiday occasion but also multiple-offense drunken drivers.

Police officers of the Southeast Wisconsin High-Visibilty Enforcement OWI Task Force will be on the streets starting Wednesday night and patrolling through the weekend, looking for subjects like this.

According to police reports:

At 1:20 a.m. Sunday, a 28-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, third offense, after he was stopped for having a suspended registration in the 500 block of Glenview Avenue.

The patrol officer said that as the man pulled over, he struck the curb and came to a stop with both right wheels on the curb.

The officer said he immediately smelled alcohol and that the odor got stronger as the suspect kept talking. Yet the driver denied having had anything to drink, blaming the odor on mouthwash.

A record check showed OWI convictions in 2004 and 2006.

After being unable to maintain his balance during field sobriety tests, the suspect admitted to having had “a couple of beers.” He was arrested and submitted to a voluntary blood draw to determine his blood alcohol concentration.