Police: Port Man Flees Scene After Drunken Accident

A 21-year-old Port Washington man is facing charges after he allegedly took a woman's truck, crashed it into a van while driving drunk, then fled the scene on foot.

John J. Scholten was charged in Ozaukee County Circuit Court on Oct. 2 with one count of operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent, one count of hit-and-run and two counts of bail jumping. If convicted, he faces up to eight years in prison and $31,000 in fines.

At 7:40 a.m. Oct. 1, several people were in a van going through the intersection of Washington and Franklin when the van was struck by Scholten, who was driving westbound in a truck, according to the criminal complaint. He then parked the truck and ran from the scene on foot.

Two of the victims who were in the van chased after Scholten and, according to the complaint, saw him enter an apartment building in the 200 block of East Pier Street.

While officers were investigating the accident, a woman approached the scene and said she was coming home from work and noticed her truck was involved in the accident, the complaint said. She said no one had permission to drive the truck and she agreed to let officers search her apartment, which was the same building where Scholten ran.

Scholten was found inside the apartment and arrested. The woman told officers he's a friend of her brother.

Scholten admitted running from the accident and said he had been drinking until 2 a.m., according to the complaint. He said he drank nearly a full bottle of Grey Goose vodka and inside the truck, officers found an open bottle of Hennessey Cognac.

Scholten failed field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol level of 0.14. He’s currently free on $1,500 bond while awaiting trial.