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	Head of Archdiocese Schools Faces Drunken Driving Charge By Crocker Stephenson Milwaukee Journal Sentinel December 10, 2009 http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/78915812.html MILWAUKEE -- Superintendent of Schools for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee David E. Lodes told police he was driving home from an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting when he was arrested on drunken driving charges last month, according to a criminal complaint filed in Waukesha County. Lodes, 59, of the Town of Delafield, is charged with driving while intoxicated, a second offense. If convicted of the misdemeanor, he faces up to six months in jail and revocation of his driving license for up to 18 months. He was convicted of drunken driving in August 2004, the complaint says. Lodes could not be reached for comment Wednesday. According to the complaint: Lodes stopped his silver-colored Lexus SUV at a traffic light in a northbound lane of state Highway 83 near I-94 about 9 p.m. Nov. 18. Behind Lodes was a yellow pickup truck, and behind the truck was a squad car containing a Delafield police officer. The light changed to green, but Lodes' car did not move. After about eight seconds, the squad pulled to the left of Lodes, who was slumped forward and leaning against the driver's side window. When the driver of the yellow pickup honked, Lodes suddenly accelerated into the intersection. The officer followed Lodes, who turned east onto Golf Road. Lodes' SUV weaved on Golf, and the officer pulled him over. Lodes, the complaint says, had difficulty operating his electric window; the police officer had to explain to Lodes how get the window to go down. "When asked about his driving that evening, the defendant crossed his arms and looked away from the officer," the complaint says. "The driver continued to remain silent for several moments. The officer then asked the driver what was going on. The defendant stated, 'Nothing.'?" Lodes told the officer that he had a few drinks earlier in the evening but refused to specify how many. He said he was returning from an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. The officer returned to his squad car to check Lodes' record. By the time he returned to the SUV, Lodes had passed out, according to the complaint. The officer woke Lodes, who had difficulty getting out of his vehicle and was very unsteady on his feet. He threw up his arms, the complaint says, and declared: "I'm drunk," the complaint says. Lodes then failed field sobriety tests. Lodes refused to take a preliminary breath test but later submitted to a blood test. The blood draw was sent to the State Laboratory of Hygiene in Madison. Lodes is a former science teacher who served for 14 years as superintendent of the Arrowhead School District. He became head of education for the archdiocese's 10-county area in October 2007. Archdiocese spokeswoman Julie Wolf said she spoke to Lodes and that "he is extremely embarrassed by this." She said Lodes was seeking treatment. "We're going to support him as he pursues his treatment," she said. "He is a human being, and alcoholism is a disease."
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