Former Superior police sergeant pleads guilty in fatal crash
Apr. 24—SUPERIOR — There won't be a trial for the former Superior police sergeant accused of killing two people and injuring two others during a 2022 crash.
Gregory M. Swanson, 44, of Superior, pleaded guilty during a Tuesday, April 23, pretrial conference to two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. The other 10 counts — two counts each of homicide by use of vehicle with prohibited alcohol concentration; hit and run-involving death; cause injury/operate while under the influence; cause injury while operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration; and hit and run-involving injury — were dismissed but read in for sentencing.
Assistant Attorney General Tara Jenswold told Circuit Court Judge George Glonek that the state of Wisconsin has agreed to cap its sentence recommendation at nine years — five years initial confinement and four years extended supervision — on each count. Jenswold said she and Swanson's attorney, Chris Gramstrup, will be arguing over whether those nine-year sentences will be served concurrently or consecutively.
A vehicle Swanson was driving struck a disabled sedan with no lights in the right lane of the 5200 block of East Second Street
at about 1:17 a.m. July 15, 2022
, according to the amended criminal complaint.
One victim, identified by a news release as a 23-year-old man, was reported dead at the scene. The Superior Police Department has not released the name of the man. He had been behind the vehicle pushing it at the time of the crash. Another occupant of the vehicle, 2-month-old Elijah Michael Ojanen, died four days later from blunt force trauma suffered during the crash, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiner.
A blood draw indicated Swanson had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.190 at the time of the crash, more than twice the legal limit, the amended complaint said.
After striking the vehicle, Swanson reportedly drove to the Holiday gas station a few blocks away. A witness at the gas station told a Douglas County sheriff's deputy they saw Swanson get out of his vehicle with a six-pack of alcoholic beverages and throw them into a garbage can.
Swanson resigned from the Superior Police Department on Aug. 4, 2022.
The maximum penalty for homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle is up to 25 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $100,000.
"You understand that the court is not bound by any recommendations made to it by either your lawyer or the state with regard to sentencing and, in fact, this court could impose the maximum penalty for each of the offenses to which you are pleading, do you understand that?" Glonek asked Swanson before accepting the pleas.
"Yes," Swanson said.
Glonek scheduled sentencing for July 17.
