Here's a man who's hurt people, and been aloud to continue to do so. Why?? Oh ya, where's his picture??

I agree with EB.

One drink and you are impaired.

This guy needs to be locked up.

Ok he got A 5th so one of his conditions of bail would have been no alcohol, not to mention that one should've been A felony so why was he out less than 24 hours later only to keep drinking,? then get A 6th still be released (AGAIN A FELONY A 2ND ONE AT THAT) Now he's back on the loose and they got him again only to get A 2nd degree reckless endangerment for trying to run over his stepfather and he was drunk and on painkillers anti-depressants and god only knows what else, then police spot him and follow him to his appartment, WHY DIDN'T THEY STOP HIM ON SIGHT? WHAT IF HE WOULD HAVE HIT SOMEBODY INTENTIONALLY AS HE DID BACK IN 1994? THEN WHAT! I have to ask whats going on with the system here, does he have OJ's legal team? Seeing as how A couple of those lawyers have died I highly doubt it! Way to go COURT SYSTEM!

EB - Say what you will about our beer culture, but despite all that, the 90 some percent of us that participate in those drinking activities know when to quit and are quite responsible. It is only a small percentage that give us a bad name. We do need to re-evaluate how we enforce and punish those who abuse alcohol, but sensibly. There are those who feel we should keep lowering the blood alcohol level, which is the dumbest thing possible. Now after one beer, responsible citizens could then be considered drunk, depending on their tolerance level. We need sensible stern laws and then enforce them. I would like to more of those devices that require someone to blow into a device in order to start the car. And just so you know, I lost one of my best friends to a drunk driver when I was 19, but I don't blame the alcohol, I blame the person and their poor decision making. We punish the offender, not the alcohol.

I have three brothers with 11 drunk drivings between them. I myself had one when I was 18. I guess once was not enough for them. They continue to drink to excess and my oldest brother just got a license to drive a semi. They will not stop drinking. The threat of jail is not enough to keep them sober. But it is for me . I dont get it.Next time your near a semi, it may be my brother behind the wheel.Drive defensively and keep an eye on your mirrors!!

EB, I understand what you are saying, but drinking and driving is about responsibility. My husband and I go tailgating and some of the other activities you mention. However, we take turns being designated driver. There is nothing wrong with drinking and having fun. What's wrong is when you don't take the responsibility to make sure that somehow, someway you will get home safe and not endanger the lives of everyone else on the road.

I just want to direct my thoughts to the family of Alex. I went to school with Alex. I want you to know how deeply SADDENED I am to hear of this awful news! There is no question that this is just another injustice to Alex and it proves that our punishment systems are extremely flawed. Alex was one of the nicest guys - he had a smile that could light up a room. He is truly missed by all that knew him. My heart goes out to Alex's family. I hope you know that I will never forget Alex and I wish you much peace in the years to come. He is in a much better, safer place.

EB, you bring a good point, but this scenario isn't about the booze or the culture. This is about an individual trying to numb himself from his mental pains. This person has a personal problem that is not caused by our culture or advertising. He doesn't drink to have a good time, he drinks so can get out of a "bad time". His mental state is most likely constant depression. His drink of choice is most likely vodka not beer. He needs something to numb him quickly. Although you make a good point, the people who have these types of problems can be found anywhere in any culture. Now some cultures may react differently, but people with no will to live and who care nothing about the safety of others are EVERYWHERE. You just happen to know about this one because he made the front page a few times. Usually thats the only way anyone knows, when it is too late and something terrible has happened... You and I and all the gazette readers, beer advertisements, bartenders, liquor stores, and even his own family cannot control this guy. He needs to learn to control himself.

I'm writing to pay tribute to my cousin Alex who was killed 14 years ago on May 1st by this fiend. He was not only my family member, he was like a brother to me. We were only about 5 months apart in age and instant friends from a very young age up through our high school years and beyond until he was ripped out of the lives of our family and I. When I use the term "ripped out" I mean that is exactly what it felt like to our family and all of his friends – it was like a nightmare that you couldn’t wake up from! Unfortunately, none of us will ever forget that day and how it changed our lives. I know that we are (sadly) not the only family to go through this, but thankfully we're strong and very close-knit. It brings me to tears when I think about Alex's cute little laugh (which he seemed to be doing most of the time)! He was loved by so many people besides his family as well...he was just so great to be around and anyone who knew Alex can relate to what I'm saying. It's just such an overwhelming feeling of sorrow and anger to know that David Ambrose had the control over an innocent person's life that night and 14 years later still has that control! I just hope something can be done about this self-pitying, pathetic being before he affects anyone else's lives!

To my beloved cousin and friend, you are still with us now...and forever!

EB: I agree with you 100%!!!!

eb good points but nowwhere does it advertize to go hop in the car and drive. i see commercials all the time for beer etc but I also see the dont drink and drive commercials along with them

on my comment before...i am not saying that he learned his lesson and will not be drinking and driving again...i meant to say that when he goes to trial, after that I am sure he will get jail time, then he wont be able to do this again...Then again, if they let him out of jail while awaiting sentencing, he very well could do what he was going to do back in '94...take the easy way out and try to off himself....so sad

I know this guy and he has a really nice dad....He wasn't abused or anything traumatic like that....This kid has psychological problems, as well as other conditions that make it hard for him to know right from wrong sometimes....This is NO excuse on his drinking and driving but it does show that mixing alcohol with anti-depressants and other medications are dangerous, and obviously the alcohol isnt helping his problems. I have a feeling that this will not be happening again, and if it does, he will need to pay the ultimate price of prison time again (I am sure he will get this anyway)...He is a nice kid, but being nice isn't going to save lives.

Good point on the Ontario laws. The drinking “culture” in Canada at least rivals Wisconsin, and probably well exceeds it. You can see it in Ontario, and as you head west, particularly around the rail and oil work areas, the drinking gets heavier and more acceptable. But you absolutely don’t have the drinking & driving problems there that we have here.

In Ontario, Canada, the penalties are much more severe for driving 0.08 or more:
http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/safety/...
Please read it all. There are expensive fines, jail time, suspension of license, mandatory alcohol education and treatment programs, impounding vehicles, and ignition interlocks.
Impaired driving (alcohol and drugs) causing bodily harm = up to 14 years in prison; causing death = up to life imprisonment.
If you are coming from the US, if you attempt to come into Canada with a DUI conviction from the US within the last 5 years, you will be turned back at the border.
I know the latter also from personal experience: a relative wanted to come from the US to visit me was not allowed to enter Canada because of his DUI record.
Maybe if Wisconsin had these tough laws, it may just save some innocent lives.

The problem is not Wisconsin law - it’s Wisconsin culture. This state is awash is beer and alcohol. There are a number of cultural problems that no law, no prison, no prosecutor, and no judge will ever be able to correct.

Tail-gaiting is extremely popular in Wisconsin. And what are the two main ingredients of tail-gaiting? Vehicles and booze.

Our college campuses constantly rank as the highest in the nation in binge drinking.

You men reading this, look at your gut and tell me you haven’t, at one time in your life, proudly displayed your “beer gut.”

The Milwaukee baseball team is named after its beer brewing history. They play in Miller (Beer) Park. Everywhere you look in Milwaukee is constant advertising for beer and alcohol. The lure of Lambeau field is intertwined with fried cheese and beer swilling. Visit Regent Street on UW football Saturday and you’ll thousands and thousands of red and white faithful getting drunk.

In the wintertime, snowmobilers play drinking games as they travel from one participating bar to the next.

Bars offer volleyball teams prizes and awards for the team that consumes the most beer in one season.

In most small towns in Wisconsin, there are only two things: churches and taverns.

Wisconsin set the record for the highest tested BAC level: .678

The Wisconsin Supreme Court recently upheld Madison taverns all-you-can drink specials.

We love our community festivals, which are nothing more than huge drinking fests. More events to drive to and more opportunities to get really, really drunk.

Our former Wisconsin “top cop” did not know when to say when. 10% of the current state legislators have at least one DUI charge. And our former, and most popular, Governor was famous for his propensity to get liquored up.

The hypocrisy of all this “let’s get tough on drunk drivers” is staggering. We are a state of heavy drinkers - we lead the nation. And then, when a story such as this hits, everyone points the finger at the Legislature, or the Governor, or the Judges and screams “you’re to blame!”

If you want things to change, you need to stop celebrating this culture of alcoholism and start acting like responsible human beings. You act as if a few law changes are going to solve the problem. Change the law, fund a few more positions, and then let us get back to our favorite Wisconsin pastimes: Green Bay Packers (with beer); Milwaukee Brewers (with beer); bowling (with beer); festivals (with beer); grilling out (with beer); the Union Terrace (with beer); fishing and hunting (with beer); UW football (with beer); oh yea, and of course, driving (with beer).

Since that one guy killed the pregnant women and her daughter, people are calling for stiffer penalties. He was just convicted of his 3rd OWI and was waiting to begin serving his time when he did it again and killed somebody. OWI doesn't become a felony until the 5th offense. The Governor wants it changed to third offense. I hope it passes. Here in Wisconsin most of the time you are given 30-60 days to turn yourself in once convicted. Where is the justice in that???? That gives you 2 months to be an idiot and possibly take a life. I understand that prisons are overcrowded and we can't incarcerate everyone but I worry every time I drive that some drunken dope is going to blow through a stop sign and plow into me when I have a car full of kids. Jail is the only way to keep these people off the road.

Where is the three strikes and your out? Again no one is held accountable for their actions. This poor fella must have been treated badly or abused.... Lose the soft feel good policies that our court has accepted and do something to prevent it.

Why should innocent people pay?

This guy will get a car and drive if he wants to, he will find booze someway and drink if he wants to, and he will do this again and again if he wants to. Obviously, HE WANTS TO. There is no "court ordered" answer for this guy, no fines or fees will stop people like this. The only way to actually prevent this from happening again is being locked up, but then we have to pay for that too. Guys like this need a full time babysitter. Should tax payers have to pay to keep these wasted lives locked up? If we don't now, we will have to when he kills again. If he doesn't care about his life, why doesn't he use that to his (and the communities) advantage and take a job risking his life by serving his country.

he still drinks and will drink again LEGALLY cuz its his rite as a 'responsible' tax paying citizen once hes served his 'debt' to the community.....how would we dare ever take away his rite to intoxicate as he choses....

kid -i was wondering too why he still drinks- well legally anyway. dont they usually say "no more drinking" and make you check in often to be sure no alcohol in blood.

justsaynotomath: where does he keep getting a car ? why are the police not taking his cars ? drug busts take cars but this jackass can keep driving ? when is the police department going to protect citizens from people like this ???

When the law permits them to do so. Who do you think keeps arresting him? Try changing your name to "justtry2binformed"- just once maybe?

Wow, A unanimous thread!

obviously, he doesn't have a license to "pull". so that's not effective in stopping him...or anyone else in a similar "boat"

I would like to suggest that people who park their cars outside (particularly on the street) do a check of their vehicle each day. Criminals will buy a car from a friend and then steal license plates to appear registered.

pull his lisence, and send him to prison! some people never learn

So how many more dwi's is this guy allowed?? It's crazy to allow these type of drivers back out on the roads. It's bad enough that he already killed someone, served a sentence and gee he's back at it. He's got a problem..yes but we have a bigger one and that's that he is on the streets and anyone of us could be his next homicide..

Picture, please.
There were pictures of the "strippers" a while back, where is this guy's picture??????

at some point this cat will be out of jail. off probation, and it will STILL be legal for him to drink. but im a criminal cuz i smoke a little pot?? ugghhhh. dont get me started;)

Throw this trash in Jail for Life before he takes an innocent one

Once again where our elected officials fail we as a community with children and dependants must take matters in hand and protect ourselves

B

This idiot killed MY cousin 14 years ago...I really don't care what his problems are...sick, depressed, whatever. All I know is that I do not want another family to have to go through what my family had to and is still going through, because of this guy. People say "locking him up" is not the answer, well, at least he can't kill anyone while he's "driving drunk" in prison. It literally makes me sick to my stomach that after killing Alex, he has had so many more "chances" to kill again. We will never get to see or talk to Alex again, he didn't get another chance.

Again he is here with new charges. Treatment dont work for people who dont want to change I have no comment as to why he is on the steets again. Whatever his problem is, he is the one who needs to own up to it and if he cant stop ask to be kept locked up until he can. He needs to be held in custody to protect the people who have reguards for others. The system we have tends to violate the innocent people of our country and protect the ones responsible for why family and friends suffer when they lose a loved one. All I can say is he needs some serious help and I feel for his family as they to suffer the consequences of his behavior and have no clue on how to help their son and this has to be devestating to them. He needs to do the right thing as does the legal system and hold him in custody until they find an option to his and the others like him rather then allowing them the opportunity to take another life or many lives.

WOW, I can not imagine why this man is even out walking or in this case stumbling the streets. I agree with lock him up and make the world a safer place please!

where does he keep getting a car ? why are the police not taking his cars ? drug busts take cars but this jackass can keep driving ? when is the police department going to protect citizens from people like this ???

The goverment needs to set an example with this guy. How they do it I am not sure. It (the punishment) needs to hurt enough to stay with someone for their whole life no matter what.

No more chances. Lock him up & throw away the key. Loser.

Here's what happens when keep giving these losers second chances:

http://www.livinglakecountry.com/story/i...

First of all Joel Mcnally doesn't know his head form a hole in the ground. As for this guy, he has had chances. Yes our system is about punishment and not treatment, but it comes down to protecting the public. There are many people, including the speaker at Parkers mock crash, who have been punished and rehabilitated themselves. They learned their lesson, realize what they have done and are moving on without jeopardizing lives again. Ambrose has proven time and time again he cannot stop. Rock county authorities must do it for him.

I hate to advocate the death penalty for drunken driving, but it seems to fit here. He won’t stop drinking and driving, ever. So he needs to be locked up, executed, or rendered unable to drive. Unfortunately, there’s no legal way to do the last option. Amputating his legs would work, or branding his forehead with a mark so it would be illegal to sell him alcohol. But that isn’t going to happen. Maybe some day we’ll have a high-tech gizmo that physically prevents driving, but that would be a ways off. Something like shackles for your arms, which can separate, but every 20 minutes or so you have to enter in a difficult sequence of characters or they re-attach (or shock you until you re-attach them). For now, I don’t know what his problem is, and I don’t care. His mother loves, him, he’s a real nice guy, he used to be a choir boy, whah, whah, whah. He needs to be locked up for good. Jail isn’t just a punishment; it’s a way to keep dangerous people separated from the rest of society.
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Unfortunately we have people in this state who obviously think jail isn’t the answer. Check Joel McNally’s column from yesterday. He wants to put the alcohol and drug offenders back on the streets. It would save us some food costs, don’t you know? Repeat offenders have to work awfully hard to get put into jail in the first place, and the left wing-nuts want to let them right back out. What’s wrong with this picture?

Everybody wants to punish, except punish HARDER this time. If anything is a case study in how punishment can utterly fail to fix the problem, it's this guy. We need to think harder about what we're doing to prevent them from drinking and driving.
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Twenty-year sentences sound good and satisfying, but the reality is that some people get smaller sentences for first-degree murder, let alone vehicular homicide.
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For example, many of the "Nth offense" rules only apply *within a rolling five year period*. This period could be extended.
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Additionally, there are numerous rules for installing ignition interlock devices, but they are optional. These could be made mandatory. Britain and other European countries are aggressively using these to prevent tragedies before they happen. There is an expense involved, but it is less expensive than keeping someone in prison.
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Drunk drivers should also be given a drug court approach. They have to improve and show the court they are making changes in their life to avoid punishment. I don't know whether we need state legislation to support that or whether Rock County could do this on their own. Certainly the drug court doesn't need extra burdens.
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But clearly, for certain chronic individuals, no amount of jail will make a difference.

OMG!! Why does this guy keep getting released to do these horrible things again? This is not new for him. He killed one of my sister's best friends 14 years ago. Why does he keep getting the chance to kill again? The wonderful young man that he killed never got 'another chance'!! Hello!!

Who gives a crap about this guy, he obviously doesn't care about himself or others. He is mental (obviously) and extremely depressed. He has no self esteem, since he tried to kill himself, and he has NO self control. I mean who tries to ram your step dad with a car? Put him in jail with the rest of the lowlifes. Stupid Jerk.

problem or not. he doesn't need to be on the streets endangering innocent people. he already killed one person. how many more people have to die to get this moron locked up for a long long time?

I cannot believe I am reading ANOTHER article about this man, that took such a great person from my life, and so many others. Alex was awesome, he was a great friend to have, and a lot of fun. It was 14 years May 1. Right about now, this time of year, he would've been getting his sweet Buick GS out of storage; to tool around in - "go cruisin". Instead, his wonderful parents drive the car - and all we have are our memories. Memories of his grin peering from the behind the wheel of that car he wanted so bad. And here I am reading about Ambrose out joy riding AGAIN!! WHAT?! Drink if you must - I have no problem with that - JUST DON'T DRIVE!! Is it that difficult?? He has been caught 7Xs!! How many times has he gotten away with it??

When is enough going to be enough. I don't understand why our society puts up with this. It is going to come to the point when people are going to take matters into their own hands when it involves themselves or a family member because the judicial system is much to soft on this issue. I wonder how one of our state law makers would react if a family member or child of theirs were killed due to a 5th,6th , or 7th offense drunk driver?? A first offense is one too many. I think some things would change. We need change now!!

I'm sorry but drinking is not this guys problem. He's not right in the head, sounds like he hasn't been since 94. My intentions aren't to be a jerk here, but it sounds to me like this guy just doesn't want to live. Its sad that instead of putting himself out of his own misery, he puts other peoples lives in jeopardy. These types of people don't need rehab, their problems are mental. Booze is just to make those pains go away. Well guy, I doubt you will read this, but my words to you are MAN UP. Take control of your life, at least whats left of it, if you can. Its not easy, and THAT is the problem here.

Seventh offense!?!?!? Absolutely absurd

Too bad they can't implant a pump that injects meds which cause an adverse reaction when alcohol is ingested.

This guy needs to be put away for a while and receive some treatment to get him off the sauce. He's obviously got some serious problems that need to be handled. It's time for the clink.

I was caught with a small amount of pot a couple years ago. It was less than 2 grams when the police put it on the scale. I was charged with a felony because it was my second offense. My SECOND offense people. The DA (not rock county) wanted to lock me up for 6 months. I am not trying to start a debate about pot. All I am trying to say is that this guy killed someone because he was drinking and driving. He should have been locked up for 20 years. He gets out and a few years later he was arrested on CONSECUTIVE nights and once more since then. I hate to think how much time I would get if I was caught with pot seven times. I would probly be doing at least a couple years in prison. I guess my whole point of this comment is to say that You should be charged with a felony after your 3rd conviction and not you 5th. There really is no fix to DUI problem, other than prohibition and even that wouldn't stop it. I hope this guy gets a couple years in prison.

Does it matter Gary? What if he goes out and kills a second person, or maybe he gets a family of six next time? The fact is he will not quit drinking and driving and no matter what the cause it is up to our judicial system to take him off of the streets to protect us. They ajournd his last hearing until July 9th stating he is in treatment. Obviously that is not working.

Does anyone think that maybe alcohol isn't this guy's real problem? I'm sure that it doesn't help, but I think that it may be more of a symptom than a cause. As far as stricter laws (to completely kill the bar businesses), the only thing that is going to stop some of these people from driving again is roadside execution.

Fifth is a felony, minimum of 6 months jail, maximum 5 years. He should get 5 each for the 5th 6th and 7th. Fifteen years, it is the only way he can be stopped.

Good article in the Milwaukee Journal today on increasing the penalty for DWI's.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx...

Yeah, eight strikes and you're out!

We need much stricter drunk driving laws in this state!

This giuy is a menace to society. He needs to be locked up-7th offense should carry a mandatory prison sentence.

There needs to be something more done with legislation. Tragically he ended someone's life, then years later he is arrested on consecutive nights for drunk driving (5th & 6th offense) and he's still free to do it again.

In Rock County? He'll be out by the weekend.

Get him off the roads for good!!!!