Breath test indicated driver was nearly three times legal limit
Charles A. Gray, 45, Iola, is charged with a fourth drunken driving offense and operating after revocation.
At 11:18 p.m. Friday, June 12, Waupaca County Deputy Autumn Ferg was southbound on State 22/110 in the town of Little Wolf.
She saw the vehicle in front of her activate its right turn signal as it approached Blake Creek Road, but it did not turn.
Then, the vehicle activated its turn signal again and turned west onto Sturm Lake Road.
According to the criminal complaint, as the vehicle made the right turn it drifted into the eastbound lane, then drifted from the middle of the road onto the right shoulder.
Ferg stopped the vehicle and told the driver, identified as Gray, that he had been all over the roadway.
As he exited the vehicle to perform field sobriety tests, Gray stumbled and used his vehicle to maintain balance, the complaint says.
Ferg reported Gray did not successfully complete the tests and said, “I’ll be honest, I’m drunk.”
A preliminary breath test indicated Gray had a .238 blood-alcohol level.
He was released from custody on a $5,000 signature bond with the conditions that he maintain absolute sobriety, not possess or consume alcohol and not operate a vehicle.
Gray has three prior drunken driving convictions.
His most recent conviction was Feb. 21 in Waupaca County when Judge Troy Nielsen sentenced Gray to 140 days in jail, then stayed 105 days under the Safe Streets Treatment Option Program.
He also revoked Gray’s license for 33 months and assessed him $6,163 in fines and court costs.