Crime & Safety
3rd OWI for Driver Found Passed Out Behind Wheel
A Milwaukee man has been charged with his third OWI after police say he had a blood-alcohol content three times the legal limit to drive.
A Milwaukee man has been charged with his third drunken driving offense after police say they found him passed out behind the wheel.
Larry Dean Thompson, 53, was charged July 26 with third offense operating while intoxicated and third offense operating with a prohibited alcohol content, both misdemeanors.
He entered a not guilty plea in a court hearing the same day.
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The charges come after Oak Creek police responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle at PPG Industries, 10800 S. 13th St., about 12:15 a.m. July 23.
A security guard told police he saw a car in the lot with its blinker on for about 15 minutes before the driver got out and stumbled around, according to the criminal complaint.
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On surveillance video, the driver is then seen getting back into the car and driving to another spot in the lot, court documents show.
Officers found the driver, Thompson, passed out in the driver’s seat of a 4-door Kia. The engine wasn't running but the key was in the ignition. Police said after Thompson responded, they immediately smelled alcohol on his breath. He also slurred his words and had bloodshot eyes.
Thompson failed field sobriety tests and registered a 0.24 blood-alcohol content on a Breathalyzer test.
Thompson was previously convicted of drunken driving in 1991 and 2001. If convicted, he could face up to one year in prison, or $2,000 in fines, or both.
He is due back in court Aug. 8 for a pre-trial conference.
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