Man Found Guilty of Drunk Driving

By Joe Bachman

A 44-year-old man was found guilty of operating with a prohibited blood alcohol concentration on Mar. 30.

Scott Ferkey, of Wisconsin Rapids, plead guilty on Wednesday, after police say on Dec. 2, 2015, he sped through a stop sign in the town of Saratoga.

According to police reports, Ferkey almost collided with another vehicle due to a failure to stop at a stop sign. Ferkey's vehicle weaved in and out of his lane and was observed striking a curb.

An officer made contact with Ferkey, who noticed that his speech was slurred. Ferkey stated that his erratic driving and slurred speech was due to his medication. The officer also noticed a slight odor of intoxicants coming from the vehicle.

Ferkey was brought into Riverview hospital where a blood alcohol test was administered and came back with a .280 blood alcohol level, well over the legal limit.

Ferkey has had multiple prior convictions of operating while intoxicated, but the charges of his fifth OWI were dismissed. He will serve one year in jail, as well as have his license revoked for 36 months.