Hunter
01/10/21
A West Liberty man who was unconscious and in an Iowa City ditch early Saturday morning tried to drive away when officers attempted to arrest him for OWI.
Police were dispatched around 1:30 am to the 42,000 block of 520th Street Southeast on reports of a Chevy Silverado in the ditch. The driver was described as unconscious. Upon arrival, they came upon 46-year-old Richard Valdez. He reportedly was passed out in the driver’s seat with the vehicle running and an open Bud Light tall-boy in the center console.
Valdez woke up when officers tapped on the window and was instructed to unlock and open the door, but he allegedly refused. He’s then accused of putting the truck into gear. The officers broke the driver’s side window and reportedly had to forcibly remove Valdez from the vehicle.
He’s been initially charged with his first OWI, a serious misdemeanor. He was released from custody later that morning, and no court date has been set.
