25-02-2025
CF woman arrested on suspicion of fifth drunk-driving offense
CHIPPEWA FALLS — A Chippewa Falls woman was arrested Saturday night in Lake Hallie on suspicion of her fifth drunk-driving offense.
Stephanie S. Potter, 40, 412 Bridgewater Ave., was arrested on a possible charge of OWI-5.
Lake Hallie Police Chief Edward Orgon said officers were sent to the Mega Holiday gas station, 2750 120th St., at 10:17 p.m. Saturday 'for an erratic female that was possibly under the influence of alcohol or drugs.'
'The officers approached a vehicle that was running at the gas pumps, identified the driver as Potter and observed signs of possible impairment,' Orgon wrote in a press release Monday afternoon. 'Potter voluntarily submitted to field sobriety testing which she failed and as a result, Potter was arrested.'
An officer located suspected methamphetamine and THC paraphernalia in her vehicle as well as on her person, he wrote.
'After Potter refused the legal blood draw, the officer obtained a search warrant, and she was transported to the hospital for the blood draw,' Orgon wrote.
Along with a possible OWI charge, Potter faces charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony bail jumping.
Potter was taken 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 Crime Laboratory.
Court records show Potter was convicted in September 2021 for possession of meth and was given a deferred sentence. Potter was convicted of her fourth OWI offense in Eau Claire County Court in 2013 and was ordered to serve one year in jail and placed on probation for three years. She also was convicted of neglecting a child, resisting an officer, and disorderly conduct in 2011 in Eau Claire County Court.
