Ton O' Trouble For Man Who Allegedly Leaves Irish Pub After A Few

A 26-year-old Sussex man is facing multiple charges after he was caught allegedly driving drunk after a Pewaukee police officer recognized his car from past run-ins.

Ryan M. Groth was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court Tuesday with one count of third offense operating while intoxicated, one count of bail jumping and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. If convicted, he faces up to two years in prison and $12,500 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

At 12:16 a.m. Tuesday, a Pewaukee police officer was on patrol near Wisconsin Avenue and Ryan Street when he spotted Groth driving by. The officer recognized Groth’s car from past incidents and knew he had a suspended driver’s license, so he pulled him over.

Groth smelled of alcohol and said he drank three or four beers at Nettie’s Irish Pub earlier in the night. He then told the police officer he was arrested twice for drunk driving and “this will be number three if I’m convicted. I’m sure I legally might be over the limit.”

Groth failed field sobriety tests and had a blood alcohol level of 0.168, which is more than twice the legal limit to drive in Wisconsin. The officer then searched Groth’s car and found an open, cold bottle of beer in the center console along with a tinfoil pipe used to smoke marijuana.

Groth was previously convicted of drunk driving in 2002 and on Sept. 7. He was assigned $1,500 bond while awaiting trial.