Sheriff's officials: Driver, passenger switch seats, both arrested for OWI
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee County Sheriff's officials say two people were arrested early Tuesday morning, September 24th for drunken driving. Officials say the driver and passenger switched places upon being pulled over, and both were arrested.
Officials say a citizen spotted a vehicle "swerving all over the road" just after 2:00 a.m. Tuesday morning on westbound I-94 at 16th Street. The citizen followed the vehicle to a gas station on 35th Street and Park Hill Avenue, then back onto westbound I-94.
A Sheriff's deputy stopped the vehicle at 102nd Street and Greenfield Ave.
The Sheriff's deputy spotted 36-year-old Christina Luna of West Allis in the driver's seat. A breathalyzer showed her PAC at .18 and she was arrested for OWI-first offense.
The citizen told the Sheriff's deputy he had observed a male driver upon first spotting the car on I-94. The Sheriff's deputy apparently discovered Luna and 38-year-old Jason Howard of La Valle had switched spots upon being pulled over.
Howard failed sobriety tests and was taken to the hospital for a legal blood draw. Howard was transported to the County Correctional Facility-South for his OWI-sixth offense.
Howard was on parole for a previous OWI conviction.
Sheriff's officials say he has an extensive criminal history that includes multiple burglary charges, take and drive without owner’s consent and resisting/obstructing an officer.
His prior OWI convictions occurred in April 1994, March 1998, September 1999, August 2001 and November 2003.
If convicted of the OWI-sixth offense, a Class H felony, Howard faces up to six years in prison.