18 OWI Arrests, Drunk Driver Nearly Hits Deputy

From the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office: Acting Sheriff Richard R. Schmidt ordered an aggressive Operating While Intoxicated (OWI- drugs and/or alcohol) initiative to rid the Milwaukee County freeway system of intoxicated drivers. This past weekend’s Operation Drive Sober initiative from Friday at 4:00 p.m. through 6:00 a.m. Monday, resulted in the arrest of 18 drunken drivers. The average PBT test results were .16.

Five repeat offenders were arrested: Randolph Mantie, age 58, of Franklin, for OWI-9th; Michael Shilbauer, age 48, of Milwaukee, for OWI-6th; William Modlinski, age 22, of Franklin, for OWI-3rd; Luis Cortes, age 21, of Milwaukee, for OWI-2nd; and Amanda Barnes, age 32, of West Allis, for OWI-2nd.

First-time offenders taken into custody were: Theodore Trotz, age 27, of Gurnee, Illinois; James Steinert, age 60, of Port Washington; Zachary Genrich, age 39, of Waldo; Karen Robles, age 26, of Gurnee, Illinois; Elliott Dunn, age 29, of Muskego; Zachary Stoltenburg, age 22, of New Berlin; and Milwaukee residents: Ryan Gliszinski, age 32; William Reilly, age 51; Quincy Harris, age 35; Richard Dworczyk, age 41; Robin Schulteis, age 36; Derrick Guy, age 27; and James Lindsey, age 43.

Sheriff Schmidt said of the OWI-9th and OWI-6th repeat offenders, “Appalling – a drunken driver without a valid license, and both drivers without the sense not to drink and drive, and without the moral courage to stop instead of flee our deputies. Eight convictions and five convictions, and now they find themselves again in handcuffs and face new charges. Help me change the culture! Enough!"

OWI 9th Arrest - Randolph A. Mantie, age 58, of Franklin

On Saturday, March 17, at about 3:45 p.m., a deputy saw a van with expired registration driving unsafely and passing other vehicles using the right distress lane on I-94 eastbound near 27th Street. The driver initially pulled over, but then attempted to flee from the deputy. The deputy followed as the vehicle exited at Clybourn and North 6th Street. The driver stopped again, jumped out of his van and ran toward the deputy’s squad, causing the deputy to draw his service weapon and order the man to the ground. Once in custody, when asked why he ran at the deputy, the man said he was running away because of his prior OWI convictions and he did not want to go to jail.

Randolph Mantie, age 58, of Franklin, was arrested for OWI-9th offense after he tested a .118 on a PBT. He did not have the required interlock ignition device on his vehicle. Three empty beer cans were found in the van. He faces up to ten years in prison if convicted of this Class G felony. He is also being charged with Fleeing, a Class I felony punishable by up to 3 ½ years in prison. Two misdemeanor charges will be filed for Operating After Revocation-OWI Related and IID Violation, together carrying up to 10 months in jail. Mantie’s prior convictions were in February 1994, November 1994, August 1998, January 2000, November 2000, May 2002, February 2005, and May 2014.

OWI-6th Arrest, subject rams squad, drives wrong way on Good Hope Road – Michael Shilbauer, age 48, of Milwaukee

On Saturday, March 17, just before midnight, a deputy attempted to pull over a suspected drunken driver for unsafe lane deviations and speeding on 86th Street Northbound near Helena Court. The driver refused to stop, and sped away at speeds up to 95 mph through city streets near 86th and Good Hope Road. The deputy stopped the car at 88th Street, but the car rammed into the squad and fled again, driving the wrong way on Good Hope Road. The deputy terminated the pursuit and began a check of the area for the subject giving backup deputies a description of the man and his clothing.

The vehicle was found abandoned at 80th and Casper Street. Deputies also went to the listed address that came back on the license plate, and the subject returned to the home just before 1:00 a.m. Michael Shilbauer, age 48, of Milwaukee, showed signs of being highly intoxicated, refused a PBT, and was arrested for OWI-6th offense. His prior convictions were in August 2000, September 2003, February 2004, October 2005, and October 2012.

If convicted of OWI-6th offense, a Class G felony, he faces up to ten years in prison. He also faces charges of Fleeing from an Officer, a Class I felony, with a penalty of up to 3 ½ years in prison and 1st Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, a Class F felony with up to 12 years imprisonment. The Hit and Run charge is a misdemeanor with a penalty of up to 30 days in jail.

Top image via Shutterstock.com; image in text courtesy of the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office