East Troy man being charged with heroin possession following freeway crash



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A 27-year-old East Troy man is being charged following a crash Monday, March 11th on I-43 westbound at the S. 84th Street on-ramp.



Sheriff's officials say Jacob Middleton's pickup truck had been stopped in the median distress lane, before it slowly crossed all three lanes of traffic, rolled down an embankment, knocked down a freeway sign, and crashed into the on-ramp wall.

Officials say Middleton regained consciousness when Greenfield Fire officials arrived, and he was combative with them as they stabilized him.

Middleton was transported to Froedtert Hospital and treated for facial fractures and a laceration above his eye.



Drug paraphernalia, including a tourniquet, bent needle and spoon, were found in the vehicle.  Deputies also found 18 bindles of heroin in the ashtray.

The preliminary investigation indicates that Middleton stopped in the median distress lane, placed a tourniquet on, cooked heroin in a spoon and injected it, losing control of the vehicle.

FOX6 News spoke with Middleton's mother on the phone. She said her son has cancer of the gallbladder and liver, and says "they can't cure him, so he must have given up."

This is the first time Middleton has faced criminal charges in Wisconsin.

Middleton is being charged with DUI-1st/Drugs, Recklessly Endangering Safety, a Class G felony punishable with up to 10 years in prison, and Possession of Heroin, a Class E felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison, for a total of 25 years possible imprisonment.