'Beyond Crazy' Drunk Driver Rams Into Squad Car: Report

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 14 drivers. The average PBT test results were .15.

One repeat-offender was arrested for OWI-4th after a hit and run crash on Saturday, March 3 at about 10:00 p.m. on I-43 southbound near W. North Avenue. The driver of the vehicle that was hit followed the striking vehicle to a residence on W. Hawley Road. A deputy responded, and arrested Alex J. Kosharek, age 33, of Milton, for OWI-4th offense. His prior convictions were in November 2005, July 2007, and September 2008. If convicted of this Class H felony, he faces up to six years in prison.

A first-time drunken driver crashed his truck into a marked squad car at the scene of a crash on I-43 northbound near Brown Street on Saturday at about 2:15 a.m. Zachary D. Peabody, age 26, of Townsend, Tennessee, struck the unoccupied squad with his pickup truck, causing his truck to flip over onto its roof. He was evaluated by Milwaukee Fire Department emergency responders and did not complain of any injuries. The Marquette University Police Department is investigating the crash.

Sheriff Schmidt said, “This is beyond crazy! A fourth offense drunk driver hits a citizen’s car, escapes the scene and we hunt him down and cuff him up. Another drunk driver totals one of our squads and gets arrested. Responsible, sober driving must become a reality, not an elusive dream! Have you had ENOUGH?!”

Other first-time offenders taken into custody were: Allyson Niendorff, age 24, of Oak Creek; Trenice Ferguson, age 25, of West Allis; and Milwaukee residents: Tyrone Kennedy, age 27; Donte Burgess, age 37; Brian Nommensen, age 44; Terrance Austin, age 42; Shaniqia Cassel, age 25; Alex Ivory, age 59; Al Thompson, age 29; Corie Holt, age 41; Steven Harris, age 37; and Yolanda Yohannes, age 43.

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