Man charged with 5th, 6th DUI after Galesville crash

A man who allegedly drove his car into the rear of a stopped pickup truck in Galesville has been charged with his fifth or sixth driving under the influence infraction.

Ted Anthony Suchla, 52, of N871 Valley View Road, Coon Valley, was taken into custody May 10 by officers investigating an accident at Wolfe Run Lane in Galesville, according to the criminal complaint. The driver of the truck and one of his child passengers were taken away by ambulance. A pregnant woman and another child were not injured, according to court records.

The driver of the truck said he had stopped the vehicle to turn when Suchla’s vehicle struck the truck, according to official accounts. Suchla reportedly told officers he couldn’t remember what happened and estimated his car was travelling at between 55 and 60 miles an hour when it hit the truck.

After the sheriff’s department K-9 alerted officers to the possibility of drugs in Suchla’s vehicle, officers allegedly found psilocin mushrooms, cocaine, methamphetamines, and an opioid pain reliever. Deputies later found suspected cocaine in Suchla’s wallet, according to court records. 

Suchla is charged with felony counts of driving under the influence, fifth or sixth, driving under the influence causing injury, possession of methamphetamines, possession of cocaine, and possession of marijuana. He faces misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance. He was released after posting $2,500 cash bond.