More Drunken Driving Arrests as Tosa Police Stay on Alert

The Wauwatosa Police Department, along with others in the metro area, is making no secret that it is on heightened watch for impaired drivers and has made a slew of arrests to show for it.

Four more recent arrests show they are getting the job done, but also indicate that still too many people haven't realized the heat is on for drinking and driving.

According to police reports:

At 8:53 p.m. Tuesday, a 53-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, first offense, after another driver ran a red light and crashed into his car after exiting U.S. Hwy. 45 onto West Capitol Drive.

While investigating the crash, an officer smelled alcohol on the crash victim’s breath and asked him to take sobriety tests, which he performed poorly.

He blew only a .06 BAC and insisted he’d had only one martini to drink, but he admitted he’d also taken five different prescription medications including Xanax.

Speeding past a squad car makes it obvious

At 1:36 a.m. Tuesday, a 21-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, first offense, after he passed an oncoming squad car at an estimated 55 miles per hour on West North Avenue at 90th Street, a 30-mph zone.

The patrol officer turned, caught up to him and pulled him over in the 8000 block. The driver said he knew he was speeding and was not wearing a seat belt. He also was driving on a learner’s permit that required him to have a licensed driver with him, but he was alone.

He smelled of alcohol and failed sobriety tests. He blew a .11 BAC.

Driver runs off parkway

At 2:03 a.m. Monday, a 25-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, first offense, after he ran off Menomonee River Parkway and crashed into a clump of trees.

The driver said he was coming from Colonel Hart’s tavern in the Village and claimed he’d been struck and run off the road by an oncoming truck. But there was no damage as would have resulted from his description of the collision, and he was swaying back and forth while speaking to the officer and eventually lost his balance and had to sit down.

He was checked by Fire Department paramedics for injuries and was found to have none, at which point he admitted he hadn’t been struck at all.

“It was all me,” he said of the crash, and went on to say, “I think I had a little too much to drink and will take whatever blame I have.” He failed sobriety tests and blew a .15 BAC.

North Avenue is not a raceway

At 2:11 a.m. last Sunday, a 36-year-old Milwaukee man was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, first offense, after he was stopped for speeding and reckless driving in the 8800 block of West North Avenue.

A patrol officer first spotted him going east at 50 to 55 miles per hour near Mayfair Road and caught up to him still doing 45 mph in the 30-mph zone around 98th Street. As he followed, he saw the driver weaving from lane to lane and swerving suddenly.

The suspect failed sobriety tests and blew a .12 BAC.