BARRON COUNTY -- Charges of 6th Offense Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) have been filed against Anthony Ferguson, of Rice Lake, WI, following a single-vehicle crash on January 31, 2020, in Barron County.
Law Enforcement responded to the crash on US Highway 53 near the 152-mile marker. Witnesses to the crash told the responding Deputies that they saw the vehicle swerving from shoulder to shoulder of the road before crashing into the median.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Anthony Ferguson, and the criminal complaint states that Deputies could smell a strong odor of intoxicants from inside the vehicle. Due to the position of the vehicle, Ferguson had to crawl to the back of the vehicle and exit out of the hatchback area. As he approached the hatchback opening to get out of the vehicle, he lost his balance and fell face-first into the snow.
While Deputies were speaking with Ferguson about what had occurred, Ferguson indicated that he was experiencing head pain and so he was transported for medical care.
Deputies asked Ferguson how much he had to drink and he allegedly responded, “too much”. A sample of Ferguson’s blood was taken for testing at the Wisconsin State Crime Lab. The results of that test were not included in the criminal complaint at the time of this post.
Ferguson was previously convicted of OWI in March 2002, April 2006, January 2008, March 2010, and July 2013. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections online records show that Ferguson, a registered sex offender, was released from prison in May 2016 after serving a 3-year term of confinement for his 2013 convictions of 3rd Degree Sexual Assault and OWI 5th Offense.
Online circuit court records indicate that Ferguson, while in custody, made an initial appearance on February 3, 2020, regarding his charges and is scheduled to appear again in February 2020.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Last Update: Feb 08, 2020 1:31 pm CST
