Authorities say last Sunday night at a Brookfield hotel nearly turned disastrous when a 34-year-old Pewaukee man drove through the parking lot, hit two vehicles and put people nearby in harm’s way. Charging documents identify the suspect as Brett Meinecke and describe him as extremely intoxicated. Deputies took him to a hospital for a blood draw before booking him in on a $500 cash bond. Officials reported no serious injuries to the drivers whose vehicles were struck.
What Police Say Happened
Brookfield police were dispatched to a hotel lot on S. Moorland Road after calls about a crash, where officers say they found a chaotic scene involving multiple vehicles. According to the criminal complaint reviewed by FOX6 Milwaukee, Meinecke’s vehicle first hit a woman’s car and her knee, then was shifted into reverse and backed into a second vehicle.
Officers at the scene reported that Meinecke struggled to stay upright, leaned on his car for balance and appeared so unsteady that some standard sobriety tests were skipped because they worried he might fall and hurt himself. A preliminary breath test reportedly registered 0.323 percent, according to the complaint cited by the station.
Charges And Court Dates
According to Wisconsin Circuit Court Access records and charging documents, Meinecke is accused of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, second offense, and second-degree recklessly endangering safety, along with allegations tied to two hit-and-run collisions. He made his initial court appearance today. A judge set a $500 cash bond, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday next week.
What He Could Be Facing
Under Wisconsin law, a second-offense OWI can bring tougher penalties that may include jail time, fines, license revocation and an ignition interlock requirement. Second-degree recklessly endangering safety is charged as a Class G felony. The statutes that spell out those offenses and potential penalties are Wis. Stat. 346.63 and Wis. Stat. 941.30.
Who The Suspect Is
Documents reviewed by FOX6 Milwaukee say Meinecke told investigators he had consumed a case of beer and vodka before getting behind the wheel, and that bystanders recorded parts of the encounter on their phones. The station reports that Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction records list him as a licensed teacher. His attorney declined to comment when contacted…