BURNETT COUNTY -- A criminal complaint charging homicide by use of a vehicle with the presence of controlled substances in the blood have been filed against Robert D. Olson, age 55, of Siren, WI.
DrydenWire.com previously published a press release in September 2019 from the Siren Police Department which stated that a 79-year old man was deceased after being struck by a vehicle in front of the Dollar General store in Siren, WI.
The Siren Police Department, Tribal Police Department, and the Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene of the crash on September 18, 2019. A witness on the scene stated to Law Enforcement that a small dog had run across the highway; a man, later identified as Jerald Mechelke, had followed the dog, and then was fatally struck by a green Jeep.
The driver of the Jeep was identified as Robert D. Olson. When Officers spoke with Olson he said he left the Holiday station, headed north, and never saw the deceased until the crash occurred according to the criminal complaint.
Officers asked Olson if he had consumed any alcohol, prescription medication, or controlled substances that would impair his ability to drive; Olson said he had not. The criminal complaint states that the Officer did not smell any substances on Olson and did not observe clues of impairment.
Olson consented to give a sample of his blood for testing and was taken to the Burnett Medical Center. Officers located marijuana and a marijuana grinder in the green Jeep, and Olson was placed under arrest for possession of Marijuana.
A report from the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene dated May 8, 2020 and attached to the criminal complaint filed against Olson indicates that Olson’s blood sample tested positive for Marijuana, Methamphetamine, and Amphetamine.
Online circuit court records show that Olson appeared for a bail bond hearing on September 19, 2019 at which time the Court ordered him to maintain absolute sobriety and submit to random testing by the Burnett County Criminal Justice Coordinator.
The criminal complaint filed against Olson states that on 4 occasions since that hearing he tested positive for THC (Marijuana) and Amphetamine/Methamphetamine: October 4, 2019, November 7, 2019, December 18, 2019, and on February 4, 2020.
Charges of Class D Felony Homicide By Use Of Vehicle - Controlled Substance; Class I Felony Possession of THC (Marijuana) - 2nd offense; Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia; and 4 charges of Class H Felony Bail Jumping were filed against Olson on May 18, 2020.
Olson appeared most recently for a preliminary examination hearing on June 16, 2020 at which the Court found probable cause to bind Olson’s case over for trial. He is scheduled to appear again in August 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: Jul 07, 2020 9:39 am CDT
