By Shereen Siewert
WAUSAU — A 55-year-old Wausau man is behind bars after being arrested Saturday on the city’s north side on suspicion of his 8th drunken driving offense.
Kelly G. Powers was pulled over at about 2:34 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, on E. Campus Drive at Cherry Street in Wausau after an officer allegedly observed Powers drifting into the lane of oncoming traffic, according to the police report. Fearing Powers might cause a crash, the officer activated his emergency lights and Powers pulled over about a block later, police said.
Powers, who told officers he was en route to a convenience store to buy a pizza, struggled to maintain his balance and stumbled while undergoing field sobriety tests, police said. According to the police report, a preliminary breath test showed Powers was driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.065 percent, which is below the 0.08 limit set for drivers in Wisconsin. But Powers, who was previously convicted of OWI in 1990, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2010 and in 2013, is subject to a 0.02 percent limit due to his prior history.
Chemical blood test results are pending.
Powers appeared Monday in Marathon County Circuit Court and was ordered held by Circuit Judge Mike Moran on a $25,000 cash bond. A pretrial conference is set for Nov. 13.
