DRESBACH, Minn. – Deputies arrested a drunk man who said he was sleeping in his car at the Interstate 90 tourist stop to wait for dawn to go fishing at the Mississippi River dam. This was about 11 p.m. How drunk was Padraic Richard Oconnell? His blood-alcohol level tested at 0.347% — four times the legal definition of impairment Let’s ask that again: How drunk was he? When the deputy asked him to exit his car, he did so and turned and then peed – never a good thing to do while being arrested. But there’s good news: His aim was good enough not to splash the deputy. Oconnell, age 54, who has a LaCrosse address, was booked two hours later at the Winona County jail 24 miles upriver from where had been planning to go fishing. And, by the way, what fishing season was still open? Only for the apex predator muskellunge, which is known for such ferocious line-pulling that an unstable angler can be pulled in.
Oconnell. His undoing began by parking illegally in a handicap lot.