by Chris Patterson
MILWAUKEE -- A woman is filing
a federal lawsuit after a Milwaukee County Sheriff's deputy allegedly arrested
her for drunk driving to cover up his fault in a car accident.
According to federal documents,
Tanya Weyker was traveling south on Howell Ave. when Deputy Joseph Quiles drove
through a stop sign resulting in an accident. Weyker's car spun out of control,
and struck a tree in a median barrier.
The lawsuit filed in federal
court claims three other Milwaukee County Sheriff's deputies, Scott Griffin,
Byron Terry, and Sergeant Matthew Paradise, responded to this accident the
night of February 20, 2013. The lawsuit alleges all officers conspired to cover
up Quiles' role in the accident by having Weyker falsely arrested for driving
while intoxicated.
The federal lawsuit says
Griffin, Terry and Paradise failed to intervene or prevent Weyker's arrest. The
lawsuit also says they all willfully "ignored or disregarded"
evidence indicating Quiles was at fault for this accident. Attorneys say all
responding deputies filed false and inaccurate information saying Weyker was
driving drunk.
Milwaukee County Sheriff David
Clarke is also mentioned in this lawsuit. It says Sheriff Clarke became aware
of the video that proved Quiles was at fault in the February 20th accident. The
video was made available to Sheriff Clarke within one week of the incident.
The Milwaukee County District
Attorney's Office declined to issue any charges against Weyker after blood
tests showed she was completely sober. Assistant DA Ron Dauge noted, "A
MCSO squad t-bones the driver's car as she is heading south on Howell Avenue.
The squad failed to stop/yield to an auto in the active traffic lane. Although
the defendant admits that she was driving 45 in a 35 (mph) zone, that speed
isn't excessive, just a violation of the speed limit. Defendant was cooperative
with police and consented to blood test. Blood test shows no alcohol, no drugs
at all. So no evidence of impairment. Ticket was also written for 'imprudent
speed.' 45 in 35 might be in excess of posted limit, but doesn't appear to be
"imprudent." Further, driver's car suffered significant damage, both
driver and passenger suffered injuries and were admitted into Froedtert as a
consequence of the collision."
