Gas Drive-Off Ends in 3rd OWI for Port Resident

Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the penalties associated with the charges.

A Port Washington resident is charged with his 3rd operating while intoxicated offense after officers tracked down his vehicle in connection with a gas drive-off.

Gary Church, 50, was charged with his 3rd OWI charge on Monday, as well as an operating with prohibited alcohol content charge - 3rd offense. He faces $4,000 in fines and at least 90 days in jail, but up to 2 years, as well as up to 6 years of revocation of his license; because his blood alcohol content was higher than .170, his fines may double.

According to the criminal complaint, Saukville police recieved a call from Beck's Mobile at 1:25 a.m. March 5 of a gas drive-off. Officers ran the license plate and found it belonged to Church, a resident in the town of Port Washington.

Officers responded to his home and noticed that the car's engine was still warm, the report said. The officer went to the home and Church answered the door. He told officers that he had not been drinking since he was home, and that he went to his house to grab some cash and planned to return to Beck's to pay for the gas.

Officers noted a strong smell of intoxicants on Church's breath, the report said; he was also unsteady on his feet. Church also failed a number of field sobriety tests.

He was arrested for operating while intoxicated, and police transported him to Aurora Medical Center in Grafton for bloodwork, the report said. His test results show a .194 blood alcohol content. 

"The defendant was cooperative and accepted responsibility for driving drunk," the report said. Church has previous convictions in 2002 in Florida, and in 2003 in Alabama. He will appear in court at 8 a.m. May 14 for an initial appearance.