Winnebago board of supervisors member charged with being drunk at meeting, carrying gun

Published 6:03 pm Wednesday, May 22, 2019

A Winnebago County supervisor is facing charges after he reportedly came to a board of supervisors meeting intoxicated on Tuesday and was found to be carrying a gun.

Michael Iver Stensrud, 64, of Lake Mills is charged with public intoxication, a simple misdemeanor, and carrying a firearm while under the influence, a serious misdemeanor.

According to a press release from the Forest City Police Department, police responded to the Winnebago County Courthouse at 10:16 a.m. Tuesday after receiving an anonymous call that Stensrud was there and appeared to be intoxicated.

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Officers met with Stensrud in the county board of supervisors meeting room, and one of the officers could smell an odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from him, according to the court complaint.

In a preliminary breath test at 10:25 a.m., Stensrud gave a breath sample of .09.

He had reportedly been drinking from a cup with a straw in it that smelled of an alcoholic beverage.

The officer asked Stensrud to provide another breath test at 10:50 a.m., which came back with the result of .097.

Stensrud was in possession of a Smith and Wesson M&P 9 mm pistol in his right front pocket, but does possess a valid permit to carry a firearm, according to police.

He is expected to be summoned to court at a later date.