Racine police say a 41-year-old man was drunk Tuesday when he crashed his motorcycle near the intersection of Washington and Perry Avenues, damaging the bike and scratching an automobile.
Rodolfo Barrera, of Racine, was charged Wednesday in Racine County Circuit Court with a felony count of fourth offense in five years of operating while intoxicated. If convicted, he could get six years in prison and/or up to $10,000 in fines. Because he is a repeat offender, the judge who sentences Barrera has the discretion to add time to any sentence they might hand down.
According to the criminal complaint, police were called at 5:23 p.m. Tuesday to the intersection of Washington and Perry Avenues for a report of a motorcycle vs. auto accident. When officers arrived they found Barrera standing next to a blue, Harley Davidson motorcycle that had scratches on its left side and a broken tail light.
Police say Barrera smelled strongly of intoxicants so they had him sit down so they could perform field sobriety tests. When the defendant attempted to walk away, he was handcuffed and detained in the back of a squad car.
The driver of the vehicle said Barrera was swerved to avoid another car and laid down the bike which then slid into the passenger side of the driver’s automobile, the complaint reads. The driver was not injured.
Barrera was retrieved from the squad car to perform field sobriety tests, which he failed. Police say he was transported to Wheaton Franciscan St. Mary’s for a blood draw, and while they were waiting, Barrera told them, “I’m not a bad guy, I just an (expletive) when I drink.”
Barrera remains in the Racine County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond. He will next be in court Sept. 1 for his preliminary hearing.