Winneconne man arrested for 7th OWI offense

Source: WLUK
Author: Mallory Allen

WINNECONNE (WLUK) -- A Winneconne man was arrested Wednesday for his 7th OWI offense.

According to a news release from the Winneconne Police Department, it happened around 8 p.m. when a nightshift officer noticed a vehicle "operating dangerously" on E. Main Street and initiated a traffic stop.

When the officer made contact with the driver, the officer "noticed signs of alcohol impairment."

The driver, a 47-year-old man from Winneconne, refused standardized field sobriety tests and "became uncooperative with [the] officer." However, he did submit to a preliminary breath test which returned a result of .171.

Upon further investigation, the officer discovered the driver was on parole/extended supervision for his 6th OWI conviction. As a condition of his parole, the driver had been ordered not to consume alcohol.

Police said based on these circumstances, the driver was arrested and taken to a local hospital, where he refused to consent to a legal blood draw. A search warrant was obtained and a forced blood draw was conducted.

The driver was taken to the Winnebago County Jail, where he was booked for operating while intoxicated, 7th offense. The Department of Corrections also placed a probation/parole hold on the driver. Officials say further charges may be referred to the Winnebago County District Attorney's Office.