Police say suspect spit in officer’s mouth

The Prairie du Chien Police Department said officers responded Saturday, July 2, to a report of a hit-and-run crash on the 700 block of North Main Street. Officers got detailed information about the suspect vehicle, including the license plate number, the direction of travel and a description of the driver.

Officers working traffic safety in the area spotted the vehicle at the intersection of South Main Street and West Wisconsin Street. According to the report, the driver was also committing several traffic violations that endangered other drivers. Officers tried to stop the vehicle, but the driver continued west on the Highway 18 bridge toward Iowa, nearly hitting several other vehicles on the road. He also nearly struck the bridge, police said.

The driver eventually pulled into the Sturgeon Slough wayside and stopped, according to the report.

Police said the driver of the vehicle was uncooperative and refused to provide his name. Prairie du Chien police were assisted by the Clayton County, Iowa, Sheriff’s Department and the MarMac Police Department in identifying the driver as Matthew G. Tielbar, 25, of Guttenberg, Iowa.

Tielbar refused to complete field sobriety tests and was arrested on suspicion of third-offense operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants, police said.

Police said Tielbar was taken to Crossing Rivers Health to test his blood for intoxicants. While at the hospital, Tielbar spit into the mouth of a Prairie du Chien officer. Tielbar was taken to the Crawford County Jail.

Police said the department will refer charges to the Crawford County District Attorney’s Office including third-offense operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicants, operating without a valid license and discharging bodily fluids at a public safety official. Tielbar was also cited on suspicion of numerous traffic related violations.