By Joe Bachman

A 36-year-old man is charged with his seventh OWI, as well as resisting arrest after police say he was driving under the influence of intoxicants, as well as failing to install a court ordered ignition interlock device from previous OWI convictions.

Daniel McGregor, of Wisconsin Rapids, is charged with his seventh offense of operating while intoxicated, resisting arrest, failure to install ignition interlock device, and refusal to take a sobriety test. According to police reports, on Dec. 19, 2015, a traffic stop was conducted after an officer noticed that a vehicle was in operation with a license plate with no vehicle associated with it.

The driver, Daniel McGregor, was initially pulled over for speeding by over 20 mph, and after a check was run, the officer concluded that the owner of the suspected vehicle had been driving with a suspended license. The officer also detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle, as well as an open case of beer in the passenger seat.

McGregor allegedly had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech when making contact with the officer. When the officer went back to his squad car to start paperwork, he witnessed McGregor open his car door and try to flee the area. The officer chased after McGregor on foot and caught up to the defendant, and advised McGregor to place his hands behind his back.

McGregor continued to resist and attempted to flee once more. The officer was able to catch up to McGregor again and after multiple attempts and resistance from McGregor, placed him under arrest. McGregor also refused to take a sobriety test, which results would later come back with a blood alcohol level of .174, well over the legal limit.

The officer noted that McGregor failed to have an ignition interlock device installed, which was court ordered from prior convictions of operating while intoxicated.

If convicted, McGregor faces up to 10 years imprisonment, and up to $25,000 in fines for his seventh OWI offense, as well as nine months imprisonment for resisting an officer and up to $10,000 in fines. His pre-trial conference is scheduled for Mar. 4.