Drunk Driver Disappears: Officers Find Hurricane High Gravity Beer Buried Under Passenger Seat

He thought he was still on North Avenue in Milwaukee after a night of drinking, but on April 29 at around 6 a.m., he was traveling North on Santa Monica Boulevard in Fox Point.

The 26-year-old Milwaukee man was speeding in the 6500 block of North Santa Monica Boulevard, going 36 mph in a 25 mph zone. A noticed, flipped on his emergency lights, and approached the vehicle.

While speaking with the driver, the officer smelled strong alcohol odors emitting from his driver's breath. The man stated he had consumed four or five drinks the night before. He described his menagerie of cocktails as some mixed drinks and some beer. He said he had concluded his evening's consumptions at 2:30 a.m., four hours before officers were pulling him over. 

He explained to the officers that he was lost and thought he was on North Avenue in Milwaukee, trying to find Interstate-94 or Highway 45 so he could get to West Bend. When the officer went back to his car to run the driver's license, the driver hunched down into his seat and disappeared from view for about 10 seconds, then reappearing.

Because of his disappearing act, officers had probable cause to search the driver's vehicle. During the search, they found an open, 16-ounce can of Hurricane High Gravity Lager beer, still with beer inside, under the passenger seat.

He completed the breathalyzer test and had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.16. He was then arrested for operating while under the influence, cited for prohibited alcohol concentration, open intoxicants, speeding, a seat-belt violation, and no proof of insurance. This is his second drunk driving offense.