A Marquette University police officer is charged with felony misconduct in public office after prosecutors said he admitted to trying to “botch” an OWI investigation.According to court documents obtained by WISN 12 News, 29-year-old Officer Isaiah Espino responded to a crash near 15th Street and Kilbourn Avenue in April 2023. Espino “subsequently arrested the driver for operating while under the influence.” It’s the conversation, and Espino’s actions, after the crash that prosecutors said crossed a legal line.The criminal complaint said the driver was cited for an OWI. As the case made its way through municipal court, the driver’s lawyer shared a screenshot of text messages his client claimed were from Espino. The message, dated July 24, 2023, begins: “This is Officer Espino from MUPD. I just have an update regarding what happened in April. I wanted to give you a heads up. I tried botching up the paperwork so nothing would come of it, well some high ranks above me forced me to fix it. I have to mail out two citations regarding that.”According to prosecutors, “it” refers to the driver’s OWI. That message sparked a separate investigation where prosecutors point to a conversation between the driver and Espino in the booking room the night of the crash, where she “told him her husband was the police chief for Marshfield. She was concerned her husband would find out about the OWI.”Court documents state Espino “left things out of the report” to help the woman with her case. Espino allegedly told investigators he was “hoping she wouldn’t get an OWI.”Espino did not explain why he allegedly attempted to botch the OWI report when WISN 12 News asked him Friday afternoon.”I’m not going to make any statements,” Espino said.Marquette police would not answer any questions about Espino Friday. In a statement, a Marquette University spokesperson said “MUPD has high standards for its officers in accordance with Marquette University’s Catholic, Jesuit values. The behavior Officer Espino is accused of does not meet those standards and consequently he has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.” According to the criminal complaint, a Milwaukee city attorney told Marquette police they will not charge or litigate any case Espino was involved in. It’s unclear right now just how many cases there are.
A Marquette University police officer is charged with felony misconduct in public office after prosecutors said he admitted to trying to “botch” an OWI investigation.
According to court documents obtained by WISN 12 News, 29-year-old Officer Isaiah Espino responded to a crash near 15th Street and Kilbourn Avenue in April 2023. Espino “subsequently arrested the driver for operating while under the influence.”
It’s the conversation, and Espino’s actions, after the crash that prosecutors said crossed a legal line.
The criminal complaint said the driver was cited for an OWI. As the case made its way through municipal court, the driver’s lawyer shared a screenshot of text messages his client claimed were from Espino.
The message, dated July 24, 2023, begins: “This is Officer Espino from MUPD. I just have an update regarding what happened in April. I wanted to give you a heads up. I tried botching up the paperwork so nothing would come of it, well some high ranks above me forced me to fix it. I have to mail out two citations regarding that.”
According to prosecutors, “it” refers to the driver’s OWI.
That message sparked a separate investigation where prosecutors point to a conversation between the driver and Espino in the booking room the night of the crash, where she “told him her husband was the police chief for Marshfield. She was concerned her husband would find out about the OWI.”
Court documents state Espino “left things out of the report” to help the woman with her case. Espino allegedly told investigators he was “hoping she wouldn’t get an OWI.”
Espino did not explain why he allegedly attempted to botch the OWI report when WISN 12 News asked him Friday afternoon.
“I’m not going to make any statements,” Espino said.
Marquette police would not answer any questions about Espino Friday. In a statement, a Marquette University spokesperson said
“MUPD has high standards for its officers in accordance with Marquette University’s Catholic, Jesuit values. The behavior Officer Espino is accused of does not meet those standards and consequently he has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.”
According to the criminal complaint, a Milwaukee city attorney told Marquette police they will not charge or litigate any case Espino was involved in. It’s unclear right now just how many cases there are.