MADISON, Wis. — The Sun Prairie city attorney has been accused of waving a handgun inside a Waunakee bar while drunk last week.
Court records indicate Mark Leonard, 61, of Waunakee, has been charged with possessing a firearm while intoxicated, carrying a handgun where alcohol is sold or consumed and disorderly conduct with a use of a dangerous weapon modifier.
According to a criminal complaint, police responded to a welfare check June 10 at Ripp’s Bar on the 100 block of East Main Street. The caller told dispatchers a man who was intoxicated and had two guns was “dancing and making people uncomfortable inside of the bar.”
The caller said he walked out of the bar after the man pointed the muzzle of a handgun at him, though the caller said he didn’t believe the man meant to and that it was likely accidental.
A Waunakee police officer approached the man in the bar and detained him after he reportedly identified himself as Leonard.
The complaint said the officer found a handgun in Leonard’s waistband, along with a second handgun that was in a holster in front of the man’s shorts. The officer removed the two weapons and noticed both were loaded, according to the complaint. Despite police reportedly confiscating two handguns, the complaint said Leonard denied being armed inside the bar.
As officials searched the rest of the bar, they allegedly found a full 9mm magazine, cash and a cell phone on top of the bar which customers said belonged to Leonard.
Leonard told officials he had not ordered any drinks at the bar, though one of the bartenders told police he had allegedly ordered four to five shots and two beers over the course of two hours.
The complaint said police retrieved video of the incident and claimed Leonard could be seen drinking from a bottle while waving a handgun in his other hand. Officials said he was also seen dancing and placing the aforementioned magazine on top of the bar.
A spokesperson with the City of Sun Prairie told News 3 Now that Leonard has been placed on administrative leave as an investigation into the incident continues.
Leonard is scheduled to make an initial court appearance Aug. 12 via Zoom.
COPYRIGHT 2021 BY CHANNEL 3000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
