Man Had Loaded Gun in Truck During Drunken Incident, Police Say

A 28-year-old Menomonee Falls man is accused of having a loaded handgun in his car during a drunken altercation outside of an area tavern.

Eric P. Nelson was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Wednesday with one count of possession of a firearm while intoxicated and one count of bail jumping. If convicted, he faces up to 18 months in prison and $20,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

At 4:43 a.m. July 14, Menomonee Falls police officers were called to Whiskey Corners and when they arrived, a man was lying in the parking lot with a crowd of people around him while Nelson was sitting in his idling vehicle with the headlights on.

Nelson's girlfriend said Nelson came to the bar between 3 a.m. and 3:30 a.m. and wanted her to come home with him. She refused and Nelson got upset and eventually got involved in an altercation with several other men.

Nelson showed officers his concealed carry permit, then officers found a loaded handgun with one round in the chamber.

Nelson failed field sobriety tests and had a blood-alcohol level of 0.188, more than twice the legal limit.

Nelson will make an initial appearance in court Nov. 5.