Brian L. Bathalon, 35, Oshkosh, was charged in Waupaca County Circuit Court with driving a vehicle without the owner’s permission, driving while revoked and a second drunken driving offense.
Shortly before 4 a.m. Saturday, July 6, Waupaca County Sheriff’s Deputy Clint Thobaben was dispatched to the village of Embarrass in response to a car theft. A tan 2000 Mazda had been stolen less than 10 minutes earlier. The owner had left the car unlocked with the keys in the ignition.
While Thobaben was enroute to Embarrass, Clintonville Police Officer Adam Miller reported over the radio he had spotted the missing car. He followed the Mazda south on U.S. Highway 45 while other officers converged on the area.
The Mazda was pulled over east of New London, on U.S. 45 near State Highway 54.
The driver, identified as Bathalon, told police a woman named “Becky” gave him permission to borrow the car.
The vehicle’s owner said he did not know a Becky and had not given permission to anyone to take his car.