OWI Crash

NEWS RELEASE

OWI CRASH

On December 13, 2019 at approximately 8:20pm, the Reedsburg Police Department requested the assistance of the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office at the scene of a two vehicle traffic crash on 8th Street at Wellington Drive in the City of Reedsburg.  The crash involved an on-duty Reedsburg Police Officer operating a marked Reedsburg Police Department patrol vehicle and an outside agency was requested to investigate the crash due to the potential conflict of interest.

The investigating Deputy learned that Timothy R. Wodele, age 50, of Wabesha, MN, had been traveling westbound on 8th Street driving a 2011 Toyota Camry.  A Reedsburg Police Officer was traveling westbound on 8th Street behind Wodele’s vehicle operating a Reedsburg Police Department marked squad car, which was a 2013 Ford Police Interceptor Sedan.  Wodele’s vehicle turned into a private driveway, then reentered the roadway into the path of the westbound squad car.  The front of Wodele’s vehicle struck the passenger side of the Reedsburg squad causing moderate damage to both vehicles.

During the investigation, Wodele exhibited signs of intoxication by alcohol.  Field sobriety tests and a preliminary breath test indicated that Wodele was impaired.  Wodele was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated 2nd Offense, as he has a previous OWI conviction, and issued citations for possessing open intoxicants and the driving behavior that caused the crash.

Wodele was not injured in the crash and was transported to and incarcerated at the Sauk County Jail.

The Reedsburg Police Officer and his K9 partner were not injured in the crash and were able to resume working.

Chip Meister

Sauk County Sheriff