Ex-Superior Police Officer Sentenced For Double-Fatal Drunken Crash

SUPERIOR, Wis. – It was an emotional day in court Wednesday as a Douglas County judge handed down his sentence against a former Superior police officer who killed a father and newborn son in a drunken hit-and-run in 2022.

Judge George Glonik sentenced Gregory Swanson, 44, to 5 years in prison and 5 years supervision for each of the two vehicular homicide convictions.

Both sentences will run concurrently as recommended by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

The crash happened two years ago at 1:30 a.m. on East 2nd Street in Superior.

Michael Evans, 23, was pushing a broken-down vehicle from the front when Swanson, with a blood-alcohol level two times the legal limit, slammed into him and the vehicle.

Evens died at the scene.  His two-month-old child, Elijah, died four days later.

Evens’ brother, Josh, and Swanson spoke in court before sentencing.

“Nothing remains because he was young. And you, you took that from him. You took a young man’s life without a second thought of its consequences. You took a young man’s life and ran away without stopping. You took a young man’s life and tried to dump evidence because all you cared about was your future. But let me ask you something, what about my brother’s future,” said Josh Evans said.

“I just wanted to say that I’m very sorry to the family of Michael and Elijah. My terrible decision cost them their lives. There’s nothing I can do to make that right. I cannot imagine the pain of losing a child and to know that I caused that pain, every day. I am also very sorry to my family for taking away their stability and security by my actions. I should have known better and never put myself in that position,” Swanson said.

Prosecutors said Swanson drove away from the scene threw away alcohol containers at a nearby gas station and bought items inside before reporting the crash.

The defendant’s attorney said Swanson suffers from anxiety and depression and had an unstable childhood.  But Wisconsin Assistant Attorney General Tara Jenswold said there’s no excuse to getting behind the wheel drunk.

“You know who especially knows those risks? A longtime police officer,” Jenswold said. “While we can empathize with him and give him, perhaps, a break, given his challenging life circumstances, I think that decision to drink, perhaps, makes sense. The decision to drink and drive — that’s a harder leap to make, and it’s harder to comprehend that.”

Swanson pleaded guilty in April to two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle. Ten other county were dismissed as part of the plea deal.