A Rock Valley man has been arrested on felony operating while intoxicated charges following a crash on cemetery grounds near Rock Valley.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Rock Valley Police, 31-year-old Milton Cuellar is accused of operating a vehicle while intoxicated after striking a tree near the intersection of 310th Street and Elmwood Avenue. The incident happened last week.
In his report, the responding officer says a witness told police the vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign before crashing into a tree on cemetery property. The officer says Cuellar was still inside the vehicle and appeared to be attempting to drive it away when officers arrived.
The officer reports detecting the odor of alcoholic beverages coming from both the vehicle and Cuellar himself. A breath test registered 0.171 percent, more than twice Iowa’s legal limit.
The report also notes an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Officers reportedly located two pipes and a grinder during their investigation.
Cuellar was charged with operating while intoxicated, third or subsequent offense, a felony. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison. He also faces misdemeanor charges, including driving while denied or revoked, driving under suspension, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving without a license, failure to obey a stop sign, and failure to maintain control.
Cuellar is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing on February 10th. He was booked into the Sioux County Jail in Orange City and released the same day after posting a $5,000 cash or surety bond.
This story is courtesy of fellow Community First Broadcasting station KIWA Radio
