Pulled over by love

By Mark Pietrowski

Not many people would consider getting pulled over by the police as one of the best moments of their lives, except for maybe Kristina Hauch.

With the help of the DeKalb Police Department, Ryan Brown, a junior Spanish language and literature major, proposed to Hauch, a junior math major, on Feb. 4 during a traffic stop.

The proposal has since not only garnered local media attention, but national attention for the couple.

They are in New York City to appear on ABC’s Good Morning America today.

“We are super excited and nervous about being on the show,” Brown said. “Both our parents will be recording it back home.”

The couple has been dating for a little over four years and met their freshman year of high school through classes, but didn’t start dating until their junior year.

At the time, Brown felt that Hauch was out of his league.

“I needed a date for the winter formal and my friends were like you should go with Ryan Brown and I was totally all for it,” Hauch said. “And the rest is history.”

Brown called DeKalb police Lt. Carl Leoni two weeks prior to help carry out the proposal.

Brown and Hauch had lunch at the Wild Rose Bistro, 850 Pappas Drive, and then drove toward the Duck Soup Coop, 129 E. Hillcrest Drive, where the couple was pulled over by officer Fred Busby.

The officer approached the vehicle and mentioned that Hauch had a brake light out and then had her come out to see it.

Busby then informed her the police department was making a film and asked if she would take a field sobriety test. Hauch agreed and passed the test. Busby then asked Brown to exit the vehicle and also take the test.

Busby tossed some coins on the ground and asked Brown to pick the quarter up and, in doing so, Brown got on one knee and proposed to a tearful Hauch.

Hauch said she wasn’t upset about having to get out and take a sobriety test.

“I was upset because I was supposed to be somewhere and we were late and he made me go to that duck place,” she said. “But we made it on time.”

As for the idea of having the police be involved in a wedding proposal, Brown said he had God to thank for that.

“The idea just kind of hit me like it was from God,” he said. “I know that sounds funny.”

Leoni, who made sure there was a photographer on sight and a camera in the patrol car, said he never heard of any such idea as the one Brown suggested.

“Ryan was very specific in wanting a traffic stop and a sobriety test” Leoni said. “This is the first time I have heard of anything like it being done and I have been here for 25 years.”

Leoni said the couple was very thankful to the department.

“I spoke with Ryan and Kristina in person and they both thanked me and the chief,” he said. “I think personally it is nice that he did it this way.”

Brown approached Hauch’s father before the event took place and he gave Brown the go ahead.

“Our parents were excited,” Hauch said. “My mom thought it was hilarious and Ryan talked to my Dad beforehand.”

There is no date set for the wedding. However, the couple has set a time frame to have the wedding sometime within the next two years.

“We are really surprised by the amount of attention we have received,” Brown said. “I just want to thank everyone and especially God for making the weather nice and everything go smooth.”