19-Year-Old Bartender Arrested for OWI after Speeding Recklessly

Around 1:27 AM on December 20, 2023, Officer Stefan Van Pamel with the Kenosha Police Department observed a tan Pontiac Bonneville driving over 60 MPH in a 30 MPH zone in the vicinity of Sheridan Road and 52nd Street. He eventually initiated a traffic stop on Sheridan Road near 66th Place. Officer Van Pamel made contact with the driver, identified as 19-year-old Kiara, and noticed that she exhibited signs of impairment. Kiara told the officer that she was coming from Walmart and heading back to her college, but her story seemed inconsistent since she was driving in the opposite direction as she drove southbound on Sheridan Road.

Based on his suspicion of impairment, Officer Van Pamel called for another officer to arrive on scene and administer field sobriety exercises. A few minutes later, Officer Maxx Tripp arrived on scene and began his investigation. He asked Kiara to exit the vehicle and perform field sobriety exercises, and she agreed to do so.

The first field sobriety exercise involved the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus (HGN) test, and Officer Tripp observed a lack of smooth pursuit, distinct and sustained nystagmus at maximum deviation, and the onset of nystagmus prior to 45 degrees. The second exercise was the Walk and Turn test, and Kiara failed to touch heel-to-toe on each step while displaying a lack of balance. The final field sobriety exercise was the One Leg Stand test. During the One Leg Stand test, Kiara was swaying while balancing and she kept putting her foot down.

Based on her erratic driving, the odor of alcohol, her indicators of impairment, and her inability to complete the field sobriety tests, Kiara was placed under arrest for operating while intoxicated (OWI). After Kiara was placed under arrest, she was searched and an officer parked her vehicle in a safe location. Officer Tripp transported Kiara to the Keonsha County Jail for further processing.

At the jail, Officer Tripp read Kiara a notice under Wisconsin’s Implied Consent Law, and she agreed to submit breath samples for testing. Kiara also waived her Miranda rights and told the officers that she had worked a shift as a bartender earlier that day. Officer Kevin Roepke administered the breathalyzer machine, and he told Kiara that her BAC level was at 0.19%. Her BAC level was more than double the legal limit of 0.08% and nearly 10 times the legal limit of 0.02% for drivers under the age of 21. After Kiara submitted breath samples, she was issued the following citations: Operating While Under the Influence (1st Offense), Operating W/PAC (1st), Unreasonable and Imprudent Speed, and UAP Under the Influence of Alcohol

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