Marquette police officer facing charges after investigators say he botched reports to help woman arrested for OWI

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Investigators are accusing a Marquette University police officer of intentionally "botching" paperwork to help out a woman arrested for driving under the influence.

Officials said the accident happened two years ago, but it wasn't until late last year when the Milwaukee County District Attorney's office was made aware, after the university requested an investigation into misconduct.

According to a criminal complaint, 29-year-old Isaiah Espino first responded to a crash by 8th and State just before 11:30 p.m. on April 10, 2023, and subsequently arrested a woman for an OWI. 

But during her trial, text messages between Espino and the driver were brought up in court, "explaining that he was going to try and screw up the case so that she would get out of the OWI charge."

That included leaving out specifics from her sobriety tests, like when she stepped off of the line during a walk and turn test, when she placed her foot on the ground during the one leg stand test, and when she stopped doing that test without being told to, the complaint said.

Documents also reveal the driver was "very emotional" during her arrest and she believed Espino "felt bad for her" as she was concerned her estranged husband, a police chief in Marshfield, "was going to find out about the OWI."

When questioned, Espino admitted to investigators he sent the texts before her trial to give her some "peace of mind."

Espino also said he didn't "write anything false in his report, just didn't write the best report he could have."

He will make his initial appearance in court Feb. 13 at 1:15 p.m.

A Marquette spokesperson sent CBS 58 this police department statement which reads in full:

"MUPD has high standards for its officers in accordance with Marquette University's Catholic, Jesuit values. The behavior Officer Espino is accused of does not meet those standards and consequently he has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation."