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Waupaca man charged with eighth OWI

Gerold W. Rochon, 55, Waupaca, is charged with his eighth drunken driving offense.

Shortly before noon Wednesday, Dec. 24, police received a report that an intoxicated man had driven away from the Holiday gas station on Badger Street in Waupaca. The caller described the vehicle as a silver truck and gave the license plate number.

Dispatch identified the vehicle as belonging to a resident on the 500 block of South Main Street.

Waupaca Police Officer Paul Benzschawel responded to the location and made contact with Rochon, who “appeared to be highly intoxicated and had trouble keeping balance,” according to the criminal complaint.

Rochon reportedly told Benzschawel that he drove to the gas station for “smokes and Christmas cheer.”

Benzschawel reported that Rochon said he had been drinking since 3 a.m. when he left work and showed the officer two 1.75-liter bottles of whiskey, one of which was empty.

A preliminary breath test indicated Rochon had a 0.273 blood-alcohol level.

He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted of an eighth OWI.

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