What started as a crash response on icy roads ended with a separate incident, arrest and 4th OWI.
On November 30, 2022, at approximately 10:02am, a Lake Hallie Police Officer was investigating a separate traffic accident due to the icy conditions at the intersection of Business Hwy 53 and State Highway 124 in the Village of Lake Hallie when he observed a Black Ford pickup truck traveling northbound on Business Highway 53.
The officer observed the vehicle disregard a red traffic light, strike another vehicle in the intersection. Due to the collision, the vehicle deviated from the lane of travel and crashed into a traffic light post knocking it over and continuing driving southbound in the northbound lanes of State Highway 124 towards 40th Avenue. The Lake Hallie Officer was able to provide a vehicle description and numerous calls from citizens provided a license plate number. At approximately 10:10am, a Chippewa County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped the vehicle at the intersection of 40th Avenue and 160th Street, Lafayette and identified the driver as Leonard Pope (37 years of age) from Lafayette.
Due to observations at the scene, Lake Halle officers and Sheriff Deputy detected the odor of intoxicants coming from the driver’s breath, the driver’s eyes were glossy, and an open liquor bottle was observed on the front passenger seat. It was revealed that Pope had a revoked Wisconsin driver’s license, and three prior OWI convictions. Pope refused any field sobriety tests and a preliminary breath test.
As a result, Pope was arrested for Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated -4th Offense, Felony Bail Jumping, Misdemeanor Bail Jumping, leaving the scene of an accident, and Operating While Revoked. Pope was transported to the hospital for a legal blood draw then was transported to the Chippewa County Jail for processing. The results of the blood test will not be known for several weeks as it will be sent to the Wisconsin State Hygiene Laboratory.
