Man Allegedly Drove Drunk With Gun Through Greenfield

A 35-year-old Franklin man is facing charges after he allegedly sped through Greenfield drunk while carrying a loaded gun in his car.

Scott R. Emanuele was charged in Milwaukee County Circuit Court on Wednesday with one count of endangering safety with use of a dangerous weapon. If convicted, he faces up to nine months in prison and $10,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

On Aug. 15, a Greenfield police officer spotted Emanuele driving a white Audi A6 at 60 to 70 miles per hour in a 35 miles per hour speed zone in the 4200 block of West Layton Avenue. The officer found the car stopped alongside the road a short time later.

Emanuele told the officer he was driving back and forth in an effort to find his friend. While talking with the officer, his friend showed up on foot to the scene.

While the officer was talking to the man, he saw Emanuele begin to rummage through his center console, so the officer told him to place his hands on the wheel. However, Emanuele — who smelled of alcohol — instead took his keys out of the ignition and tried to get out of the car.

The officer told him to stay inside, but Emanuele kept trying to open the door; he was unable to because the officer was holding it closed.

Eventually the officer called for backup and Emanuele was placed under arrest. He told the officers he had a gun in the passenger side door compartment. Police found it loaded with three bullets.

Emanuele was taken to the where he failed field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol level of 0.16, which is twice the legal limit to drive in Wisconsin.

Emanuele told officers he drank six whiskey and Cokes at before driving and had the gun with him because he always takes it with him. He said he left it in the door because he didn’t know where else to put it while drinking in the bar.

He’s currently free on $200 bail while awaiting trial.