(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
August Adolphus Busch IV, the 53-year-old former CEO of Anheuser-Busch, has been detained by Missouri police after he allegedly tried to fly a helicopter while drunk.
Busch, 53, landed his chopper in a parking lot in the town of Swansea, Missouri before reboarding eight hours later. He seemingly appearing to be under the influence of alcohol.
However, he was not alone, as Busch was accompanied by his wife along with four loaded guns, prescription pills, and their eight dogs.
via Fox News:
Swansea Police said in a Facebook post officers were dispatched to a report of a helicopter landing for an unknown reason around 12:40 p.m., and were concerned about the aircraft taking off again “due to close obstacles and buildings.” Chief Steve Johnson contacted the FAA at the time, and they advised they would investigate the landing.
About 7 hours later, police said they received a call saying the pilot, identified as Busch, “appeared too intoxicated to take off.” The helicopter’s rotors were spinning and the engine was revving up when an officer arrived on the scene. The arrivng officer then turned on the emergency lights on the squad car, and the pilot powered down the engine. Busch’s wife, Dawna Wood, was with him at the time, in addition to eight dogs in the helicopter.
After a second officer arrived on the scene, Swansea Police administed a standardized field sobriety test. Busch appeared unable to keep a single train of thought, and his speech appeared mumbling and slurred but he blew a .000 on a breathalyzer test
According to police, Busch’s wife said that her husband has anxiety issues and is off his medication because of recent fertility treatments.
Furthermore, officers also believed Busch may have been under the influence of a controlled substance. Police found Dexamethasone, which is used to treat inflammatory conditions such as allergies, in his pocket, but the prescription was for Busch’s wife.
Inside the helicopter were several loaded weapons, including a loaded Ruger LCR 22 LR revolver, and several bottles of prescription drugs.
Busch was released from the Swansea Police Department around 12:30 PM on Tuesday, July 11. No charges have been filed at this time.
