"Just an unfortunate incident:" Grafton man arrested for third OWI after bicyclist ran into his vehicle



OZAUKEE COUNTY (WITI) -- A 44-year-old Grafton man is facing serious charges following an incident on St. Patrick's Day that occurred at the intersection of 8th Avenue and North Street in Grafton. The incident involved a 13-year-old boy on a bike, and 44-year-old John Raymond's vehicle.

John Raymond



Raymond appeared in court in Ozaukee County Wednesday, March 18th. On Tuesday, he was driving with a 12-year-old child as a passenger in his vehicle when a 13-year-old bicyclist ran into his vehicle at the intersection of 8th Avenue and North Street.

"(The bicyclist) had looked away while he was riding his bicycle to wave at his friend. When he looked back forward, he had approaced the intersection. He himself went through the stop sign and hit the side of a moving vehicle. The operator of that vehicle pulled over, came back and rendered aid," Grafton Police Captain Joe Gabrish said.

The 13-year-old bicyclist sustained minor injuries -- but Raymond was soon arrested.

"Through an investigation we noticed the smell of alcohol on his breath  and he was arrested for operating while intoxicated," Captain Gabrish said.

A criminal complaint filed in this case says Raymond's preliminary breath test registered a reading of .14 -- almost two times the legal limit. Because a 12-year-old child was in Raymond's vehicle, there is an enhancer to this OWI charge. Additionally, this is Raymond's third OWI.

"This is a felony case. However, Mr. Raymond's two prior OWIs: one's in 2004, one's in 2002. That's over 11 years ago. He has stayed clean and sober and out of the issues with the law since then," a prosecutor said in court Wednesday.

Raymond's friend Carla Haas says he's been through a lot: medical issues, a business loss and a divorce.

"It's just an unfortunate incident that has hurt him and you know, other things in his life have played a factor, but there is no excuse. I want people to see that he is a good man and this could have happened to anybody," Haas said.

The judge set Raymond's bond at $750 cash with the provision that he consumes no alcohol or controlled substance and wear an alcohol detection scram bracelet.

Raymond will be back in court on April 6th.