STAR JOURNAL REPORT

A $5,000 cash bond has been set in Oneida County Circuit Court for a 47-year-old Rhinelander man accused of being involved in an altercation at the county jail that resulted in a corrections officer being injured.

Todd M. Meinecke has been charged with felony counts of battery to a public officer and operating while intoxicated (fifth or sixth offense) and misdemeanor bail jumping.

According to court records, Meinecke had been driving a van that two sheriff’s deputies had found early in the morning of Aug. 15 to be unoccupied and partly in the ditch area along Hwy. 17 in the town of Sugar Camp.

The deputies were informed that Meinecke would be hiding in the woods to avoid law enforcement before they found him and another individual who both allegedly “smelled highly of intoxicants.”

A sheriff’s deputy’s report states Meinecke admitted being the driver, while the other individual stated that both he and Meinecke were drinking intoxicants in the vehicle with Meinecke driving the entire time. Meinecke allegedly denied having anything to drink before or while he was driving and also refused to perform any field sobriety tests.

After being arrested for operating while intoxicated, Meinecke was taken to Ministry St. Mary’s Hospital for a blood test, for which a search warrant was issued after he refused, and then transported to the Oneida County Jail.

Meinecke allegedly became increasingly agitated and upset during the booking process. While exiting the booking area as he was being escorted toward the holding cell, court records state Meinecke jumped up, put both feet on the wall, and kicked back, kicking a corrections officer into a metal table holding a printer and injuring the officer’s right forearm.

Meinecke allegedly continued to physically resist before being restrained with the help of other corrections officers.

Meinecke, who also faces forfeiture charges of refusing to take a test for intoxication and illegal dumping of solid waste, is scheduled back in court Sept. 12 for an adjourned initial appearance.