Hunter
11/23/19
A West Liberty man found passed out in a vehicle early Saturday morning was charged with its theft.
Police were patrolling in the 5100 block of Highway 6 Southeast around 2:30am when they came upon a man passed out in a running vehicle, parked on the wrong side of the highway. Upon contact with the man, identified as 27-year-old Manuel Gonzalez of Elm Street, officers noticed bloodshot watery eyes, and the odor of ingested alcohol. Gonzalez reportedly failed field testing and provided a PBT sample over the legal limit. He refused a subsequent Datamaster.
A check of the registration on the vehicle, a white 2018 Chevy Malibu, found that it had been reported stolen.
Gonzalez has been charged with his 2nd OWI, Driving while Barred, and 1st degree Theft. If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to a maximum of 14 years in prison.