Stop Sticks Thwart Drunk Driver With Children in Car

Stop Sticks Thwart Drunk Driver with Kids in Car

https://www.gmtoday.com/

https://www.gmtoday.com/the_freeman/news/man-allegedly-drove-drunk-with-young-kids-in-car/article_90419199-6774-56e6-97d5-bf5532f9b30b.html

Stop Sticks Thwart Drunk Driver with Kids in Car: A Racine man has been accused of driving under the influence with two young kids in the car.  In order to stop this threat, police officers deployed Stop Sticks.

A Dangerous Driver

            On a Sunday night, Waukesha County received calls that a gray Honda Pilot was driving dangerously.  The Pilot drove all over the roadway and repeatedly hit rumble strips.  A deputy noticed the vehicle passing her squad car nearby.  The vehicle swerved over the fog line, and nearly hit the car.  After missing, a pursuit engaged with the deputy and dangerous driver.

The Chase

            The deputy activated her emergency lights and sirens, but the vehicle kept driving.  Throughout the pursuit, the driver swerved in between lanes and nearly hit the concrete median multiple times.  The pursuit reached speeds of 86 mph, and it finally ended after the successful deployment of Stop Sticks.  When asked to step out of the car, the driver refused at first.  Finally, the driver did and he was unable to follow directions.  The man was clearly intoxicated, and the deputy also saw three children in the vehicle.  There was a 5-year-old, a 1-year-old, and a 5-month-old in the vehicle with the drunk driver.

Aftermath

            Officers identified the driver as Samuel A. Minkes, 26.  After the deputies realized that children were in the vehicle, they called Minke’s wife.  She was under the impression that he was sober, and he picked up the children from her earlier that night.  Racine County previously convicted Minkes of theft movable property.  After the chase, he has been charged with attempting to flee an officer, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, first-offense, with a minor child in vehicle, and three counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety by Waukesha County Circuit Court.  If he is convicted, he will spend over 20 years in prison.

Link to article by Karen Pilarski: https://www.gmtoday.com/the_freeman/news/man-allegedly-drove-drunk-with-young-kids-in-car/article_90419199-6774-56e6-97d5-bf5532f9b30b.html