Wausau Man Arrested for OWI After Incident at Fast-Food Restaurant

Friday, March 14th, 2025 -- 1:01 PM

(Mike Leischner, WSAU) An observant fast-food worker at a Wausau area restaurant led to accusations of an 8th OWI against a 60-year-old man.

According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, police say it started with a report about a driver revving his engine in the parking lot before entering the dining room. The employee said the man was stumbling and slurring his speech.

They called the police after the man left the restaurant and drove off. Officers caught up to the suspect, identified as Steven Podeweltz, near his home on Scott Street. He failed a field sobriety test and blew a .17.

He now faces a battery of charges and forfeitures, including felony OWI, tampering with an ignition interlock device, operating with a revoked license, and refusing to take a field sobriety test after an arrest.

Podeweltz was booked into the Marathon County jail on a $15,000 cash bond and returns to court on March 19th. He faces a maximum of 12 and a half years in prison if found guilty on the felony count alone.

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