Drunken Driver Eludes Cops, For a Little While

A 35-year-old Port Washington man faces charges for his 4th operating while intoxicated offense after two officers chased him through the city for his erratic driving.

George Basgall was charged on Friday in Ozaukee County Circuit Court for attempting to flee or elude an officer as well as 4th-offense operating while intoxicated. He faces 3 years and 6 months in prison, and an additional one year in county jail as well as $12,000 in fines and the loss of his driving priveleges for up to 3 years and 6 months. He is set to appear in court at 8:30 a.m. June 4 for a status conference.

A Port Washington officer was busy with a traffic stop on North Wisconsin Street near the Interstate 43 ramps at 11:30 p.m. April 25 when a car drove up the off ramp in a more than noticeable way. According to the criminal complaint, the officer head screeching brakes and the saw the vehicle hit the curb, drive over it and then stop.

The officer could smell burning rubber and burning brakes as the driver, Basgall, continued to make a right hand turn and head down Wisconsin Street, the complaint said. The officer returned to his vehicle to pursue Basgall, and when he caught up another officer was also following Basgall. The officers used emergency lights to direct Basgall to pull over, but he continued on, ignoring the signal.

The vehicle took at left turn off Wisconsin Street, with the officer directly behind Basgall following, the complaint said. The second officer then heard the first officer say that the car had stopped and Basgall was out of his car.

When the second officer arrived, Basgall was being held at gunpoint, the complaint said. He "was told repeatedly to get down but did not reply." Officers noted his glassy eyes and slurred speech.

He was taken into custody and transported to the Port Washington Police Department. There officers conducted field sobriety tests, which he was unable to pass, the complaint said. Officers asked Basgall to submit to a breathalizer test, to which he replied, "Nope."

Basgall has previous operating while intoxicated charges in February 2000, May 2000 and August 2006.