Crime & Safety
Man Drives High on Drugs With 2-Year-Old in the Back Seat, Say Police
Police arrest Waukesha man for his third operating while under the influence charge after he's pulled over near his parent's home in Muskego
A 33-year-old Waukesha man is accused of driving under the influence of drugs with his 2-year-old daughter in the back seat of his car.
Michael J. Ward was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Monday with one count of third offense operating while intoxicated. If convicted, he faces up to two years in prison.
According to the criminal complaint:
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At 5:30 p.m. Saturday, a person called 911 after he spotted a Cadillac Seville driving erratically westbound on Janesville Road and he thought the driver may be drunk. The caller followed the Cadillac as it turned onto Kristen Drive, then Canfield Drive and finally onto Castle Glen Court.
A Muskego police officer arrived and found the Cadillac driving slowly around a cul-de-sac. The car was registered to Ward, who is well known by the officer who also knew Ward's parents live in the cul-de-sac. Ward slowly went past their driveway and the officer then pulled him over, according to the complaint.
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Ward didn't smell of alcohol and denied drinking, but the officer noticed his voice was slow and raspy. Ward said if he drove erratically on Janesville, it may have been due to him tending to his young daughter in the back seat. Ward said he takes two Lozapam tablets daily, but only took one before driving today. He took field sobriety tests, which he then failed, the report stated.
Officers searched Ward and found Alprazolam pills (anxiety medication) in his pocket and a Suboxone film, which is commonly used for opiate dependenc in his wallet. Ward was previously convicted of OWI in 2001 and 2007. He's currently free on $1,000 bail while awaiting trial.
