A 42-year-old Prior Lake man was arrested for his fourth driving while impaired (DWI) violation in 10 years after being stopped for speeding near Highway 13 and Rustic Road on Aug. 13.

Patrick Edwin Williams was charged with first-degree DWI, a felony, fleeing a police officer, violating a restricted driver’s license, driving after revocation and driving after cancellation-inimical to public safety by the Scott County Attorney’s Office last week.

According to the criminal complaint, police witnessed Williams traveling 55 mph in a 45-mph zone on Highway 13 near Rustic Road at about 2:32 a.m. on Aug. 13. As the officer followed Williams’ truck, the officer observed Williams swerve over the fog and center lines. The officer attempted to make a traffic stop, but Williams continued driving north on Highway 13. Williams stopped briefly at South Park Drive and Highway 13, and then pulled back onto the road and turned into the Target parking lot near Highway 13 and County Road 42. Williams then ran two stop signs before driving over a curb and stopping at Holiday Gas Station, 7461 Egan Drive, in Savage, the complaint stated.

According to the criminal complaint, the officer noticed a strong odor of alcohol on Williams’ breath, his eyes were bloodshot, glassy and watery and Williams’ speech was slurred. Williams failed the preliminary breath test and was jailed. Williams’ blood alcohol content is pending a urine analysis.

Williams was convicted of three previous DWIs in February 2007, December 2004 and April 2003. Williams was also previously convicted of fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in 1987.

– Shawn Hogendorf