Wisconsin cops detained a suspected drunken driver after he was spotted driving the wrong way on Interstate 94. A circulating video shows the moment the man drove past Vice President Kamala Harris‘ motorcade. The presidential candidate was in Milwaukee on Monday night (Oct. 21) for a campaign stop.
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Here’s What Happened With Suspected Drunken Driver
It appears that the suspected drunken driver’s name has not been released to the press. However, according to the Associated Press, the man is 55 years old.
Harris had just wrapped up a rally in the Milwaukee suburb of Brookfield on Monday evening when her motorcade passed a car heading the wrong way. He appeared to be driving slowly. Sheriff’s deputies trailing the motorcade stopped the vehicle. Upon request, he underwent field sobriety tests but ultimately failed them. Officers took the 55-year-old into custody after the failed tests. Additionally, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s spokesperson James Burnett confirmed to AP that cops found an open container of alcohol in the man’s vehicle.
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Burnett further shared that the drunken driver told deputies he was headed home after a night out but had no idea he was driving the wrong way on the freeway. According to an arrest report obtained by WISN-TV, the man told deputies that he didn’t remember entering the freeway.
Moreover, he claimed he didn’t have any intention of hurting Harris or anyone connected with her campaign. See the trending video of the 55-year-old’s driving infraction below.
New reporting tonight from @NickBohrWISN: The Secret Service is looking into how a suspected drunk driver, driving the wrong way on the interstate, came this close to VP Kamala Harris' motorcade in Milwaukee last night after her event in Waukesha County pic.twitter.com/VEclfwEQVR
— Matt Smith (@mattsmith_news) October 22, 2024
What Happens Next?
The sheriff’s office was still waiting for the man’s blood alcohol test results from the state crime lab on Wednesday morning, per AP. For context, the legal limit to drive in Wisconsin is 0.08%.
At this time, the 55-year-old has not yet been charged. However, according to Burnett, the sheriff’s office has recommended prosecutors charge the man with second-degree reckless endangerment and first offense operating while intoxicated.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Burnett says the man used an off-ramp to get onto the interstate. But, it’s unclear which interstate access points — if any — were blocked to traffic because of the motorcade and which law enforcement agency was responsible for closing entrances and exits.
Secret Service Special Agent Joseph Routh confirmed Burnett’s recollection of the interstate access. Additionally, Agent Routh said the freeway was closed when the man entered. Ultimately, no vehicles in the motorcade made contact with the suspected drunken driver’s car, and the motorcade continued to Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport without further incident.
Also, the special agent clarified that the agency could not disclose details about its motorcade operations and safety procedures.
