By Shereen Siewert
A 43-year-old Wisconsin Rapids man on federal parole and state probation was arrested late Friday after allegedly crashing into a telephone pole and fleeing police in Wausau.
Police say after David A. King was apprehended, he tore off a necklace and swallowed a large ring, then claimed officers stole his property. Officers searched for the ring but squad video showed King breaking his necklace with his own teeth and gulping down the jewelry, according to court documents.
The crash was reported just after 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 21 in an alley off North Fifth Avenue at Maple Street. Witnesses said the driver left the scene at a high rate of speed but was seen driving through the area.
When police caught up with King, he allegedly pulled over and fled on foot. An officer chased King and tackled him to the ground in a private yard, but not before the officer injured his knee on a wooden beam, court documents state. The officer suffered a deep tissue bruise but was not seriously hurt.
King, who has five prior OWI convictions, underwent field sobriety tests before he was taken to a local hospital for a chemical test of his blood, the results of which are pending. He was jailed on a probation and parole hold and charged Monday with sixth offense operating while intoxicated, resisting an officer resulting in substantial bodily harm or soft tissue injury and operating while revoked.
During an initial appearance, Circuit Judge Greg Strasser ordered King held on a $1,500 cash bond in addition to his probation and parole holds. It is unclear if the new charges will lead to a parole revocation, which could send King back to federal or state prison.
A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 2.
