Man Tries to Avoid OWI by Switching Seats During a Traffic Stop

A 29-year-old Muskego man is facing charges after he tried to avoid a drunk driving charge by switching into the passenger seat of his car after being pulled over.

Anthony J. Thibedeau was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Tuesday with one count of third offense operating while intoxicated and one count of bail jumping. If convicted, he faces up to nearly two years in prison and $12,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

At 8:41 p.m. Friday, a Muskego police officer on patrol was traveling westbound on Woods Road when Thibedeau crossed over the center line of the eastbound lane and nearly struck her squad car. The officer then did a u-turn and followed Thibedeau until pulling him over near Lannon Drive and Haven Drive.

While walking up to his car, the officer noticed Thibedeau bend down a couple of times, then move over to the passenger seat where he waited for her to approach the car. The officer had her Taser drawn when she approached the car and immediately smelled alcohol when the door opened.

Thibedeau was arrested and taken to the where he insisted someone else had been driving the car because it’s his dad’s car, then said his grandfather just had open heart surgery and he “doesn’t need this right now.” When asked to perform a field sobriety test, Thibedeau said he was in no condition to drive and continued to say someone else had been driving. He then took the tests and failed and submitted to a Breathalyzer test, which showed he had a blood alcohol level of 0.181, which is more than twice the legal limit to drive in Wisconsin.

He then refused to listen to officers and began to pick at his leg. Thibedeau then said announced he was bleeding and had a hole in his leg.

Officers then took Thibedeau to Waukesha Memorial Hospital and on the ride pretended to pass out, then said he bumped his head when the squad went over a bump. Once they arrived at the hospital, he refused to get out and after an officer helped him out, Thibedeau fell to his knees to the ground, then refused to get up.

Thibedeau then refused to submit to a blood test and continued to fight hospital staff and officers through the process.

He was previously convicted of OWI in 2005 and 2009. He was also charged with third offense OWI in November and that case is still ongoing. He’s currently free on $1,000 bond while awaiting trial.