Hunter
11/10/20
A Marion man who ran into a pond to escape officers has been arrested in Iowa City for his third OWI.
Police reports say the incident occurred just after 5:35pm near the intersection of Benton Street and Mormon Trek Boulevard. 36-year-old Joshua Bargman of Valley Park Street was stopped for speeding, got out of his car and reportedly walked away from the officer before he was escorted back to his vehicle.
Bargman reportedly had the strong smell of alcohol on his breath. Officers also noted Bargman’s bloodshot watery eyes and his swaying while standing.
While field tests were being administered, Bargman allegedly took off running. Police say he failed to stop when told to do so, ran into a pond, and refused to come out. It took about fifteen minutes for officers to talk Bargman into coming out of the water.
After refusing part of the field tests and a PBT, he agreed to a Datamaster test, showing a blood-alcohol level of .135 percent.
Bargman’s had two previous OWI convictions: one from Wisconsin in 2016, and another this past February in Iowa. He’s been charged with his third offense, making it a Class D felony punishable by a prison sentence of up to five years. He was also charged with Interference With Official Acts, a simple misdemeanor.