Posted Thursday, February 28, 2013 --- 12:08 p.m.

Incident Report from the Madison Police Department:

Incident Type: Stolen Auto

Incident Date: 02/28/2013 - 12:56 AM

Address: State St. @ W. Mifflin St.

Arrested: Michael Rivera, age 20, Madison
Mr. Rivera was arrested for Operating a Motor Vehicle Without Consent, Operating While under the Influence, Operate without a Valid License, and Underage Consumption.

Victim: Madison Metro

Details: An intoxicated man got kicked off a bus, stole a car, and crashed into a downtown public art sculpture early this morning.

Madison Metro staff told police the suspect had fallen asleep on a bus and was still on board when the driver finished the final route for the night, around 12:15 a.m. The 20-year old was kicked off bus. He then got into a Madison Metro car, a Pontiac Vibe with municipal plates. It had been left running outside the main door of Metro's East Washington facility as its battery was low, and a Metro employee was in the process of recharging it.

When no one was looking, the suspect got behind the wheel and drove toward the Isthmus.

A witness, a 29-year old Madison man, saw the Vibe coming the wrong way around the Capitol Square. The driver tried to turn down State Street, but failed. He lost control, jumped the sidewalk, and struck concrete pillars of an arch-shaped sculpture located next to the Wisconsin Veterans Museum.

The car was heavily damaged; the driver uninjured.

He took off down State Street, with the witness following a safe distance, as he updated a 911 dispatcher about the suspect’s whereabouts. Thanks to his efforts, officers were able take the suspect into custody.

He had two cans of beer in his pockets, and his blood alcohol level was recorded at .17.