SUPERIOR, WI — A Superior police officer posted bail Monday afternoon and has been released from custody hours after he was charged for allegedly hitting and killing a man Friday while driving under the influence.
RELATED: 1 dead after crash involving off duty Superior Police Officer
The crash happened around 1:15 am Friday on the 5200 block of East 2nd St.
The family of 23-year-old Michael Evans confirmed to KBJR 6 that Evans, his 24-year-old girlfriend Laura Ojanen, and their two children were traveling home from celebrating Evans’ birthday when their car ran out of gas.
At some point, they say officer Greg Swanson hit their vehicle.
Evans died and the family says his two-month-old child will be taken off of life support in the next 24 hours as of Monday afternoon.
We don’t know how badly the other two people in the vehicle may have been hurt.
According to court released Monday, after hitting the vehicle, Swanson kept documents driving to a nearby gas station.
Superior Police responded to the gas station and requested the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office to get involved.
A deputy reported Swanson’s eyes were glossy and slightly bloodshot. They said he also smelled of alcohol.
When asked if he had been drinking, Swanson said he had two beers and a mixed drink between midnight and 1:30 am
Swanson also told authorities he didn’t see Evan’s vehicle in the right lane until he collided with it.
Deputies performed six field sobriety tests, all of which Swanson failed, according to court documents.
They’re still waiting for blood tests to return from the lab.
Authorities also spoke with witnesses at the gas station, who say they saw Swanson get out of his vehicle with a six pack of alcoholic beverages and throw them in a garbage can.
According to court records, Swanson, a 25-year veteran of the department, made his first court appearance via video Monday where he was charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle.
The judge ordered bail to be set at $15,000.
Now that staff at the Douglas County Jail say he is no longer an inmate, Swanson must abide by the court-mandated rules that he not consume any alcohol, not drive without a permit or license, and have no contact with the victim’s family.
Superior Police Chief Nicholas Alexander said Swanson is placed on paid administrative leave, per department policy.
According to the Douglas County District Attorney’s office, an assistant attorney general within the Wisconsin Department of Justice will prosecute the case.
The Douglas County DA deferred the case, due to Swanson’s history with their department.
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