Woman accused of impersonating sister during OWI arrest
KENOSHA (WITI) -- 27-year-old Brianne Ziemba of Kenosha has been charged in connection with an incident in which she impersonated her sister when arrested for her second OWI.
Ziemba has been charged with OWI (2nd offense), misdemeanor bail jumping (six counts), operating with prohibited alcohol concentration (2nd offense), operating a motor vehicle while revoked (OWI-related, habitual traffic offender), obstructing an officer and felony personal identity theft (avoidance).
The criminal complaint in the case indicates Ziemba was out on bond when she was pulled over on December 31st, 2012. A deputy responded to reports of a vehicle traveling in “every lane, weaving back and forth between the lanes,” behind a bus.
The complaint says when a deputy made contact with Ziemba, she reported she was texting and driving. Ziemba told the deputy she was driving to Milwaukee to meet up with a friend at a casino. The deputy reported Ziemba appeared extremely nervous and excited and stressed that the cause of her bad driving was the texting.
The complaint says a deputy observed a moderate odor of intoxicants and Ziemba admitted to consuming one drink at home. The driver then became extremely upset about the questioning and stated, “I’m going to be arrested,” and “I was texting.”
Ziemba was transported to the Racine County Sheriff's Office to complete field sobriety tests. Ziemba was later given a breathalyzer test, and the reading was .10.
The complaint says Ziemba informed the deputy she consumed a large amount of alcohol the previous evening and was positive some of it was still in her system.
The complaint indicates the deputy issued six citations to the driver under the name of Shannon Meheis for non-registration of auto, texting while driving, deviation from designated lane, display unauthorized registration plate, operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration, and operating while under the influence. The total amount of the citations was $1594.30 and 20 points off the driver’s license.
On January 31st, investigators spoke with Mehleis, who told officials her sister had used her name at the time of the traffic stop.
The criminal complaint indicates Mehleis stated that her sister has previously used her name when pulled over by law enforcement.
Officials say Ziemba has two prior arrests for obstructing an officer, in which case Ziemba was charged with obstructing after identifying herself to law enforcement officers as Mehleis.
The complaint says on January 31st, investigators spoke with Ziemba. Ziemba stated that she wanted to get the incident all cleared up. Ziemba stated that on December 31st she was driving a white Honda Civic northbound on I-94 and using her cell phone when she was stopped by Deputy Sutton.
The complaint indicates Ziemba stated that she was heading to Milwaukee to meet her boyfriend, had been drinking, and knew her sister had a clean driving record and valid license, so she identified herself to the deputy as her sister.
The complaint says Ziemba stated that she used Mehleis’s name because it was New Year’s Eve and she wanted to celebrate with her boyfriend. Ziemba stated that Mehleis did not know Ziemba was using her name.
A review of DOT records indicates that Ziemba’s driver’s license is revoked due to a previous OWI conviction, and as a habitual traffic offender.