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Published - Wednesday, October 15, 2008

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Police chase ends in OWI, other charges


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Charges were filed Tuesday against an accused drunken driver with a revoked license who led police on a high-speed pursuit late Monday on La Crosse’s South Side.

A La Crosse police officer found a blue Saturn driven by Brian Bettin, 41, parked in a South Side cemetery about 10:20 p.m., according to the criminal complaint filed in La Crosse County Circuit Court.
Bettin drove out of the cemetery and past the squad car when the officer activated his emergency lights.

He fled through the Shelby Mall and Quillin’s parking lots at 50 mph without headlights, the complaint stated.

The chase ended when Bettin parked his vehicle outside his apartment building at 3020 S. East Ave.

A woman reported Bettin had sideswiped her sports utility vehicle at Losey Boulevard and East Avenue. The vehicle was damaged, but the driver was not injured.

Bettin registered a 0.12 percent blood-alcohol concentration in a preliminary breath test, according to the complaint. His license was revoked in March 2006 because of a drunken driving-related offense.

He was charged with attempting to flee or elude a traffic officer, second-offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and with a prohibited alcohol concentration, hit-and-run and operating after revocation.

Bettin is in the La Crosse County Jail on a $500 cash bond. His case was continued to Friday so he can hire an attorney.
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30558 wrote on Oct 15, 2008 11:53 PM:

" A whole $500 cash bond. Get real $50K is more realistic. "

j.r. wrote on Oct 15, 2008 9:52 PM:

" How many chances do we give these people - seriously. LaCrosse has an issue with law enforcement avoidance. Nail them the first time and keep them off the streets. We as citizens that want to be safe need to contact our representatives and demand a change. Do not give someone like this a second chance to change your life forever. "

itsme123 wrote on Oct 15, 2008 1:23 PM:

" He's a repeat offender...driving on a revoked license. If he was driving that vehicle drunk, on a revoked license...you can bet he's been driving since his license was revoked in 2006. Drunk at 10:20pm at night in a CEMETARY. Why would you be sitting in a cemetary at 10:20pm by yourself...drunk? Sounds a bit fishy...so I'm sure this is why the police officer decided to investigate. Driving with out his headlights on...again, another reason to pull him over. I say congrats to the officer for being there to get this guy off the streets. Hopefully the Trib will continue to cover this guy...he needs to be stopped before someone is killed (which he almost did to that poor lady he sideswiped), and I would like to know how this case ends... "

rfield wrote on Oct 15, 2008 12:23 PM:

" I hope that's sarcasm, ACE. "

ACE wrote on Oct 15, 2008 12:02 PM:

" This case should be dismissed. The cops had no reason to start harassing this guy to begin with. And then risk other people's lives with a high speed chase. The cops should be arrested for attempted homicide by use of a motor vehicle. "

Rickey wrote on Oct 15, 2008 8:24 AM:

" A person would be less punished if They were to run a Crooked FUNERAL HOME "

elocs wrote on Oct 15, 2008 8:05 AM:

" Any of us here are in more danger of being hit and killed or injured by a drunk driver in the course of are daily lives than to be the victim of any kind of violent crime.

We seem to be able to make more and more things a crime even if they are victimless or nonviolent and then incarcerate the offenders, but those who choose to drink alcohol and drive put innocent people at risk. They need to be separated from society for the protection of society. They need to serve serious prison time and not be given repeated chances to drink and drive again until someone is hurt or killed.

This is the second offense for this guy and there is little reason to believe he would learn his lesson after 3, 4, 5 or more DUIs. Enough is enough. "

rfield wrote on Oct 15, 2008 7:29 AM:

" This is rediculous. He'll probably get a fine and a couple days in jail. Big deal. He should be jailed for at least a year. Plus no driving a car ever again. He's proved he doesn't deserve the right to drive twice now. "

kimmie wrote on Oct 15, 2008 1:03 AM:

" Thank God nobody in the parking lots got hurt! "


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