A prominent Coeur d’Alene businessman was arrested and charged with driving under the influence following a two-car accident north of downtown Tuesday night. John A. Beutler, owner of Century 21 Beutler and Associates, did not stop at a stop sign while headed west on Walnut Avenue around 9 p.m. in his Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Coeur d’Alene Police Department reported. A Geo Metro headed south on Third Street T-boned the Jeep as it travelled through the intersection. The Metro’s driver and his young son told police they were not injured but were going to the hospital to be checked out, the report said. "I feel terrible there was an accident. I never thought this would happen to me," Beutler said. "I got in a hurry and made a mistake I will regret for a long time"/Alison Boggs, SR. More below. 

Beutler insisted he had stopped at the stop sign, but a witness told police the Jeep was still travelling "at full speed" through the intersection. While waiting to be interviewed by police, Beutler urinated along the side of the street, in potential view of about 10 people, the police report said. Beutler’s blood alcohol content was .12, above the legal limit of .08. He was booked into the Kootenai County Jail for driving under the influence and public urination but posted bail.