By Shereen Siewert
A 75-year-old Wausau man who threatened to “choke” an officer who arrested him for his fourth OWI charge overall and the second in a two-year span will spend a year in prison, after he was sentenced this week in Marathon County Circuit Court.
Dale H. Becker was arrested in December 2018 after police received a call from an off-duty police officer who spotted a driver on Hwy. 107 “all over the roadway.” The officer followed the driver, later identified Becker, along several county highways until a deputy could arrive. The off-duty officer reported seeing Becker strike a mailbox and operate left of the center line before being pulled over about a half hour later at the intersection of Hwy. 29 and Hwy. S in the town of Rib Falls.
According to the police report, Becker urinated on himself and nearly fell when getting out of his Chevy pickup.
Becker, who refused a preliminary breath test by blowing at the deputy and not into the tube, allegedly failed sobriety tests and became combative when the officer searched him for weapons and contraband, making “condescending and homophobic” comments and calling the deputy a “queer.”
After being transported to Aspirus Wausau Hospital for a chemical test of his blood, Becker repeatedly threatened the officer and said the officer “better never let him see me again,” according to the criminal complaint.
Becker was sentenced Jan. 7 by Circuit Judge Mike Moran, who also ordered Becker to spend three years on extended supervision when he is released from prison. Moran imposed a fine of $2,452, ordered a 30-month driver’s license revocation, and is requiring Becker to maintain absolute sobriety from alcohol.
Becker, who was free on a cash bond, was immediately remanded to the Wisconsin Prison System. He was granted 44 days credit for time served while awaiting trial.
