Journal Times staff

Driver cited for OWI. hit and run

RACINE - A 45-year-old Caledonia man was cited for operating a vehicle while intoxicated after the 1998 Geo Tracker police said he was driving failed to negotiate the turnabout at the end of Gaslight Drive, drove over a pedestrian walkway and crashed into a construction site fence at 12:45 p.m. Thursday. Police said that the car then fled the scene but was located a few minutes later.

Reports indicate that Keith J. Prochaska, 6841 Highway H, Caledonia, was also cited for hit and run and operating a vehicle after revocation. Neither Prochaska or a 34-year-old female in his car were hurt in the incident.

Store burglary interrupted

RACINE - A window at Wisconsin Discount, 2724 16th St., was broken out late Thursday night in an apparent burglary attempt.

Police received a burglar alarm report at 11:25 p.m. The owner of the store, who lives upstairs from the business, said he had heard someone pounding on a window moments before he received a call about the alarm. Police did not provide an estimate of damage.

Woman cut after being struck with bowl

RACINE - A 22-year-old Racine man was charged with battery and disorderly conduct after police investigated a domestic altercation at 8:40 p.m. Thursday in the 100 block of Main Street.

Police said a 22-year-old Racine woman received numerous lacerations after she was struck with a glass bowl that shattered. The injuries were not considered life threatening, reports indicated.

Kamuela I. Maiola, 2116 Neptune Circle, had to be restrained by three police officers during his arrest, reports state. There were also several outstanding warrants for Maiola, who was taken to the Racine County Jail.

Tires slashed at business

RACINE - Tires on four vans were found slashed Thursday at Unique Drapery, 612 High St. Two of the vehicle had all four tires slashed. Police said the vandalism occurred between 6:30 p.m. Wednesday and 2:30 p.m. Thursday. There were no known suspects as of Friday. No estimate of damage was given in the police report.

Two arrests follow OWI traffic stop

BURLINGTON - A 50-year-old rural Burlington man was arrested early Thursday on his third suspected offense of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and his passenger was arrested on charges of obstructing, bail jumping and disorderly conduct.

City police stopped a car at 2:27 a.m. on Highway 36 near Buckley Road near the Wal-Mart store after a patrol noticed a car deviating from its traffic lane.

During the stop, the officer noticed the smell of alcohol and ordered field sobriety tests for the driver, William W. Platt, 5340 371 Ave., Wheatland. He was taken to Memorial Hospital of Burlington for a blood draw, processed at the police station for the OWI charge and held overnight at the city lockup.

The passenger eventually was identified as Ronald D. Vila, 41, of Elkhorn, but gave city police different information about his identity at the scene of the traffic stop. A Town of Burlington police officer who came to assist recognized the suspect and cleared up the identity matter. Vila was subsequently charged with obstructing.

Vila was taken to the city police station, but then complained about chest pains. A rescue squad was called, but he refused treatment. Minutes later, Vila again complained of chest pain and shortness of breath and appeared to become unresponsive.

He was transported to the hospital, where reports indicate he later became disruptive and city and town police officers and a sheriff's deputy had to stand by and calm him down, resulting in the disorderly conduct charge. Because of a past conviction for a fifth offense for operating a vehicle while intoxicated that came with a prohibition on further drinking, a blood draw was ordered for Vila by the Racine County District Attorney's office. That led to the bail jumping charge.

Racine Police Department expands customer hours

RACINE - The Racine Police Department service counter is expanding the hours during which it is open to the public. Starting Monday, the counter will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. This will help people who need to conduct business outside of typical working hours, the department said in a press release.

Although the counter remains closed on weekends, the press release noted that there is a drop-box in front of the department in which to deposit payments for traffic tickets. The police department is located at 730 Center St.