A Sioux Center man faces a felony drunk driving charge following a traffic stop Tuesday night, October 27.
According to court documents, Sioux Center Police stopped 41-year-old Hector Hernandez Martinez at the intersection of Seventh Avenue Northwest and Seventh Street Northwest around 9:28 p.m.
An officer alleges Hernandez Martinez was driving west on Seventh Street Northwest when his vehicle swerved within its lane, crossed the centerline multiple times, and accelerated erratically from stops. The officer also reported a cracked windshield.
The criminal complaint states the officer noticed a strong odor of alcohol and cologne inside the vehicle and observed a case of beer on the rear passenger seat. Police allege Hernandez Martinez attempted to spray himself with cologne in an apparent effort to mask the smell of alcohol.
According to the complaint, Hernandez Martinez had bloodshot eyes and impaired balance and admitted drinking approximately seven beers before driving. Police say he showed signs of impairment during field sobriety testing and provided a preliminary breath test result of .135.
The officer also reported that Hernandez Martinez’s Iowa driving privileges were suspended and that his vehicle did not have a required ignition interlock device.
Hernandez Martinez was charged with third-offense operating while intoxicated, a Class D felony; driving under suspension; operating without a required ignition interlock device; and contempt for failure to install an ignition interlock device.
The OWI complaint lists prior OWI convictions in Sioux County in December 2017 and Woodbury County in April 2020.
At last report, Hernandez Martinez was being held in the Sioux County Jail on a $5,600 cash or surety bond.
