Two Reporters from Same Station Busted for DUI
/
It seems like more and more TV news people are getting busted for DUI these days. But this is the first time that we know of that two on air talent from the same station are arrested for driving drunk in the span of 2 days.
WHO (Des Moines) Reporter Sonya Heitshusen, charged with first-offense OWI and driving on the wrong side of the street early Saturday morning.
The day before, WHO Reporter Erik Wheater, 25, was charged with first-offense OWI early Friday morning.
Police pulled over the vehicle Wheater was driving near Second and Court avenues for not having a front license plate, authorities said.
Heitshusen, 47, of Des Moines was stopped shortly after 1 a.m. near Fifth Avenue and Walnut Street.
She at first refused to exit her vehicle and refused any field sobriety tests or a preliminary breath test, authorities said.
Heitshusen had bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech and swayed and staggered as she stood, according to Des Moines police reports.
At the Des Moines police station, she stumbled and had to use the wall of the OWI testing room for balance and appeared to fumble and have trouble using her phone when she tried to place calls, police reports show.
Heitshusen again refused to take a breath test and was taken to the Polk County Jail, authorities said.
As for Wheater, cops say he seemed unsteady on his feet and fumbled looking for his license, registration and insurance, according to police reports. He failed several field sobriety tests and a preliminary breath test showed a .125 percent blood alcohol level.
We're guessing that there will be a couple of Reporter openings soon at WHO. If there's not, there should be.
Just saying....
