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State Rep. Josh Zepnick arrested for driving drunk
State Rep. Josh Zepnick arrested for driving drunk
MILWAUKEE -- State Representative Josh Zepnick (D - Milwaukee) was pulled over and arrested for driving under the influence on Thursday evening, October 29th. His arrest is surprising many, especially given Zepnick's past.
Josh Zepnick
Greenfield police say Zepnick was pulled over near 68th and Forest Home Ave. for a traffic violation.
47-year-old Zepnick was polite, admitted to drinking and failed field sobriety tests. When he refused a breathalyzer test, he was arrested.
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RAW VIDEO: Greenfield PD dashcam of Josh Zepnick arrest
RAW VIDEO: Greenfield PD dashcam of Josh Zepnick arrest
Police say at no time did he mention his day job. But Zepnick broke the news himself and released a statement regarding the incident:
Josh Zepnick pulled over for driving drunk
What makes Zepnick's arrest so surprising to many is what happened to his family. Zepnick's sister was struck and killed by a drunk driver while riding her bicycle in Greenfield in 1990.
Josh Zepnick in police squad
"Sped through a stop sign at roughly twice the limit, got out of the car, saw what happened, sped away and started drinking again," said Zepnick in a 2009 interview.
The state lawmaker says the death of his sister inspired him to run for public office. He was speaking with FOX6 News then, in an attempt to strengthen Wisconsin's drunk driving laws.
"My job is to send a signal that we care about this, we're serious about this," said Zepnick in 2009.
A single OWI charge in Wisconsin is not a criminal offense -- it's a municipal traffic violation.
Greenfield Police Chief Brad Wentlandt released a statement saying on the Greenfield Police Department Facebook page, "A few of us still remember the aftermath of Jamie Lynn Zepnick's tragic death. Representative Zepnick’s arrest reminds us of the pervasive problem of drunk driving in our State."