BELDENVILLE – A River Falls man was arrested for his eighth OWI after crashing a moped at a local bar and trying to fight the bar owner.  

Floyd William Cook, 56, was ordered to pay $500 cash bond in Pierce County Circuit Court Oct. 12 on felony OWI-eighth, resisting or obstructing an officer, disorderly conduct, ignition interlock device tampering/failure to install/violate court order and operating while revoked (alcohol related) charges. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 12.5 years in prison and/or fines up to $25,000.

According to the complaint:

Pierce County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched at 7:24 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 to a moped vs. truck crash at Highway 65 and 740^th Street next to Clyde’s Corner.

When police arrived, they found a Honda moped lying on its right side in the southeast ditch at the Highway 65/740^th Street intersection. It had scratches and was missing the right mirror.

Officers identified the moped’s operator as Cook, who was already in an ambulance being evaluated.

Deputies spoke to Jerad Erlandson, the owner of Clyde’s Corner, who said Cook had come into the bar and ordered a drink. Shortly after, he fell asleep at the bar and the bartender asked him to leave.

Erlandson said after the bartender asked Cook to leave, he saw Cook “crawling” through thickets near the fence between his house and the bar. He thought Cook was trying to break into his house and walked him back over to the bar parking lot. He said he and Cook spoke for about 45 minutes and at one point, he offered to get Cook help. When Cook refused his offer for help, Erlandson told him to leave.

According to Erlandson, Cook became confrontational when asked to leave and wanted to fight. Cook allegedly got onto the moped, put on a helmet, gave Erlandson two middle fingers and drove eastbound through the parking lot where he crashed into a blue Chevrolet pickup belonging to Darren M. Moon, 44. The truck had a softball-sized dent near the driver's side headlight, and pink-colored paint transfer along the vehicle's front bumper.

After striking the truck, the moped continued into the ditch. Erlandson said he walked over to the ditch where Cook attempted to pick up the moped, but Erlandson kicked it down multiple times. He said Cook started challenging him to fight again, so Erlandson backed up toward the parking lot in view of the cameras. When Cook took a swing, Erlandson allegedly pushed him face-first into the parking lot pavement, which caused scrapes on Cook’s face. Erlandson agreed to provide police with the bar’s security footage.

Cook, whom police interviewed in the ambulance, told police he was pushed off the moped while attempting to leave. He had bloodshot, glassy eyes, slurred speech and alcohol breath. Police noticed his eyes were unusually dilated, and he had urinated on himself. He claimed he defended himself because he’s a man.

Cook became more irritable and argued with police and EMTs. Dispatch advised officers that Cook’s license was revoked due to OWI and that he is required to have an ignition interlock device installed. Cook tried to walk away from the ambulance, stating he was going to walk home. He became tense, balled his fists and pulled away from police when put back onto the stretcher.

When placed under arrest, he tried to stand up again and pulled away from police. He allegedly said, “I’m going to be pure difficult.” He continuously pulled his legs away from police and had to be restrained on the stretcher. An ambulance brought him to River Falls Area Hospital, where Cook refused to consent to a blood test. Police applied for and received a warrant for the blood draw. While waiting for the warrant, Cook apparently tried to get out of the bed several times and had to be physically restrained. A spit hood had to be placed over Cook’s head as a precaution, which he tore off.

When leaving the hospital, Cook allegedly swung his arms, tried to pull away from officers and acted belligerently. Once in the squad, he continuously hit his head against the Plexiglass cage and refused to be buckled in. At the jail, Cook argued with staff and refused a preliminary breath test. He failed booking and was put into a receiving cell.

Police tracked down the moped’s owner, who had lent it to Cook. He did not have insurance on the moped, which was towed.

Court records show that Cook was convicted of seven OWIs between 1990 and 2019. This charge would be the eighth. He is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 27.