SHEBOYGAN, WI (WHBL) - An OWI charge typically means that a person was found to have had too many alcoholic beverages that hinder how they drive a vehicle. It can also mean that a person has taken a substance that has the same effect, like an illegal drug.
That is what allegedly happened with a Plymouth man, who Sheboygan County prosecutors charged with his fourth OWI offense Monday. 51 year old Gerald Spruell is also facing charges of possession of narcotic drugs and possession of THC.
The criminal complaint for the charges explain how the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department came to this conclusion after they were called to investigate a vehicle in the ditch on the south side of Batavia January 29.
A deputy reportedly was able to get in contact with the person who called in the vehicle complaint, who said another person escorted the driver to a nearby bar. Once inside the bar, the deputy found the driver, identified as Spruell. The bartender told the deputy that the man had two cups of coffee while there.
The deputy has his suspicions about Spruell’s condition, given characteristics such as trouble keeping his balance when standing and a sleepy appearance. The deputy asked the man what happened, and Spruell reportedly said he was going somewhere to pick someone up, but could not remember who or where the person was. He decided to pull off to the side of the road, and ended up in the ditch.
The deputy asked Spruell to perform field sobriety tests, which determined he was under the influence and was arrested. While Spruell reportedly admitted to drinking a few beers, a breathalyzer test determined he was not over the limit. The deputy asked if Spruell had taken anything to contribute to his condition, which he reportedly said he had smoked marijuana and taken half an Ambien. He added there he also took heroin within the past few hours.
The deputy then searched Spruell for any illegal substances. That resulted in finding a small bag with a substance later determined to be heroin, and a small container that contained a green-substance with THC.
Spruell was taken to Sheboygan Memorial Medical, where medical personal administered Narcan since he said he had taken heroin. That helped him to recover and provided a better explanation of what happened prior to the accident. Spruell reportedly said he had recently lost a job and had gone back to taking drugs. He added he was on his way back from Milwaukee where he purchased heroin when the vehicle ended up in the ditch.
Spruell now faces up to eight years in prison if found guilty of all charges..
