WAUSAU PILOT AND REVIEW
WAUSAU — Police say a 38-year-old Wausau man who was pulled over on suspicion of OWI became so agitated and combative officers were forced to subdue him with a Taser.
Now, Brandon Scheel faces charges of 8th offense drunken driving, battering or threatening a law enforcement officer, resisting or obstructing an officer, and disorderly conduct in connection with the traffic stop, which happened at about 2:30 a.m. Jan. 24. Official charges were filed Monday, March 11 in Marathon County Circuit Court.
According to the criminal complaint, an officer patrolling the 100 block of West Bridge Street spotted Scheel’s vehicle traveling north on First Avenue at a rate of about 45 mph. The speed limit on the roadway is 25 mph.
The officer followed Scheel’s vehicle, which continued traveling at estimated speeds of up to 50 mph north on First Avenue. When the vehicle crossed Randolph Street, Scheel allegedly turned off all his exterior lights and continued driving for about another block, police said.
Police say Scheel had difficulty grasping his license from his wallet, then became increasingly agitated and uncooperative, ordering officers to get off the property they were standing on, which was near Scheel’s home. That’s when Scheel allegedly became combative, forcing officers to use a Taser. Even after being struck by the Taser, Scheel allegedly continued to try kicking out the window of a squad car while being taken to a local hospital for a chemical test of his blood.
At the hospital, Scheel’s behavior continued to escalate, police said. According to court documents, Scheel was screaming obscenities, threatened to “beat” one of the officers and said “You’d better hope I never see you again.”
Court records show Scheel’s prior OWI convictions happened in 2002, 2004, 2005, three times in 2008, and once again in 2011.
An initial appearance is set for March 18.
