SAWYER COUNTY -- A criminal complaint was filed on September 21, 2020, against a Hayward, WI man alleging that he spit on a Law Enforcement Officer following his arrest for 7th offense Operating While Intoxicated (OWI).
On September 2, 2020, shortly after 2p, an Officer with the City of Hayward Police Department observed a disabled Pontiac Bonneville on Greenwood Drive at US Highway 63. Another vehicle was stopped nearby and assisting the driver of the Bonneville with jumper cables.
The driver of the Bonneville was identified as Woodrow Gordon. Sawyer County Dispatch confirmed that Gordon’s operating privileges were revoked and that he was on probation. The Officer made contact with Gordon, and the criminal complaint states that when Gordon overheard Dispatch confirming his probation status, he became very upset and began shouting at the Officer, stating that he had just picked up the Bonneville from an auto shop and was taking it to a friend’s house on the reservation. Gordon went on to allegedly state that he had not consumed alcohol since 3a that morning. He became increasingly aggressive in his demeanor and began yelling profanities at the Officer and clenching his fists.
Gordon then slammed the hood of the Bonneville shut on the jumper cables which were attached. The individuals (not identified by name in the complaint) who were trying to assist became scared, according to the complaint. Gordon did open the hood of the Bonneville after the Officer instructed him to do so, and the jumper cables were returned and those individuals left the scene.
Following this, Gordon continued yelling profanities at the Officer and began walking away from the scene. Additional Officers arrived on scene, and Gordon returned to where the Bonneville was located.
The criminal complaint goes on to state that Gordon used his cell phone to contact his probation agent. An Officer on scene spoke with the agent who advised that if Gordon was found to have been drinking, a hold would be placed on Gordon to hold him in custody at the jail.
Gordon cooperated with a preliminary breath test, which gave a result of .108. At that time Gordon was taken into custody for OWI, 7th Offense. A tow truck was called to remove Gordon’s vehicle from the scene, and Gordon was transported to the Sawyer County Jail.
While being transported, Gordon repeatedly banged his head against the inside of the squad car and spat multiple times onto the windows and interior of the squad car, according to the criminal complaint.
After being taken inside the jail, Gordon continued to be disorderly and allegedly spat in the direction of an officer, resulting in the saliva striking the Officer in the face and chest area.
An evidentiary chemical test of Gordon’s breath alcohol content was conducted at the jail, and the criminal complaint states that the result of that test was .09.
Sawyer County Medics arrived at the jail following the test and evaluated Gordon for possible injuries from hitting his head inside the squad vehicle. After being cleared by the medics, Gordon was placed into the custody of the Sawyer County Jail.
Charges filed against Gordon include Class F Felony Operating While Intoxicated, 7th Offense; Class F Felony Operating With Prohibited Alcohol Concentration, 7th Offense; Class I Felony Throw or Discharge Bodily Fluids at Public Safety Worker; Misdemeanor Failure to Install Ignition Interlock Device; and Misdemeanor Operate Motor Vehicle While Revoked.
The criminal complaint filed against Gordon states that he was previously convicted of operating while intoxicated on 06/01/1998, from an offense on 01/05/1998; on 10/18/1999, from an offense on 04/01/1999; on 12/11/2000, from an offense on 09/08/2000; on 08/18/2008, from an offense on 04/08/2008; on 02/08/2010; from an offense on 05/08/2008; and on 03/18/2020, from an offense on 12/23/2019.
On Gordon’s most recent conviction, in March of 2020, the Court accepted Gordon’s plea of Guilty to operating while intoxicated 6th Offense; ordering a withheld sentence, 3 years of probation, and 6 months of county jail.
Online circuit court records show that at a hearing on September 8, 2020, the Court placed Gordon on a $10,000 signature bail bond. He is scheduled to have an initial appearance on his charges in October 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: Oct 11, 2020 10:34 am CDT
