Richland Center man arrested for OWI 9th Offense

RICHLAND CENTER, Wis. (WRCO / WRCE) – The Richland Center Police Department responded to the report of an intoxicated man in a vehicle at Kwik Trip East. Chief Billy Jones reports that officers responded November 4, and made contact with the driver identified as John P. Keegan, 63 of Richland Center. Officers observed multiple indicators of impairment, including the presence of open alcoholic beverage containers inside the vehicle, the odor of intoxicants, and significant difficulty by Keegan in communicating and maintaining his balance.

John Keegan initially claimed another individual had driven him to the location, but officers reviewed  store video surveillance which confirmed that Keegan had operated the vehicle and arrived alone. Keegan declined to perform standardized field sobriety tests and was subsequently arrested for Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), 9th Offense.

Keegan was transported to the Richland Hospital for a blood draw and later booked into the Richland County Jail. A preliminary breath test at the jail indicated a blood alcohol concentration of 0.30. Evidence from the vehicle, including alcoholic beverages, was collected and processed. John Keegan remains in custody at the Richland County Jail and is scheduled for a mandatory court appearance on December 18.

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