'A terrible situation': Milwaukee man appears in court after drunk driving incident near VP Harris' motorcade
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee man made his first court appearance Wednesday, Oct. 30, after he was arrested for driving the wrong way on a freeway past the Vice President's motorcade.
Fifty-five-year-old Wayne Wacker is charged with 2nd degree recklessly endangering safety.
On Oct. 22 around 8:30 p.m., the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office says Wacker was travelling westbound in eastbound lanes of I-94 at the Marquette Interchange, when he passed within feet of Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign motorcade.
Back at the station, Wacker told investigators he had no recollection of driving on the freeway.
The criminal complaint says a breathalyzer test showed Wacker's blood alcohol content at .252, more than three times the legal limit.
In court Wednesday, Wacker's lawyer made it clear that had no intention to harm anyone, including the Vice President.
"This is a terrible situation that Mr. Wacker has found himself in. It had nothing to do with the fact the Vice President was in town and in the motorcade," said Attorney Julius Kim. "Mr. Wacker quite honestly had no idea the Vice President was in town, much less that her motorcade was passing the highway at the time this incident occurred."
Wacker is out of custody on a $15,000 cash bond. He is ordered to wear an alcohol monitoring ankle bracelet.
His attorney also told the judge that Wacker has been a special education teacher with Milwaukee Public Schools for more than 20 years.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 18.