Richland Center man arrested on OWI charge in local township

A Richland Center man is looking at a charge of operating while intoxicated-fourth offense after a traffic stop on Aug. 29.

At about 1:15 a.m., a Sauk County Sheriff’s Office deputy came upon a vehicle stopped in traffic at Highway 23 and North Reedsburg Road in the town of Excelsior. The driver was identified as Melvin M. Payne Jr., 46. During the stop, Payne Jr. showed signs of impairment, according to the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office.

The deputy asked Payne Jr. to submit to field sobriety tests, which led to the arrest. He was taken to the Sauk County Jail, and the vehicle was removed by Steve’s Towing, according to the Sheriff’s Office.