Sanborn, Iowa — A Melvin man has been arrested on felony OWI charges after an incident near Sanborn.
According to a criminal complaint filed with the O’Brien County Clerk of Court’s Office by the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office, 41-year-old David Charles Nachtigal of Melvin is accused of operating while intoxicated.
In his statement, the deputy states that the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office received a call from someone who said he saw a white Ford Escape drive onto his farm driveway and then park. The reporting party attempted to make contact with the driver, but said the driver was passed out behind the wheel. The deputy says when he got there, Nachtigal was still passed out behind the steering wheel, the vehicle was running, and Nachtigal had his foot on the brake pedal. The officer noticed that Nachtigal appeared to be intoxicated, but he refused standardized field sobriety testing and a preliminary breath test. Instead, a search warrant was obtained for a sample of Nachtigal’s blood, which will be tested at the DCI Crime Lab in Ankeny.
Nachtigal was charged with operating while intoxicated, third or subsequent offense, a class D felony. If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison. He also faces misdemeanor charges of driving while barred and driving while denied or revoked.
Nachtigal has waived his initial appearance and preliminary hearing. No other court dates have yet been set.
At last report, he remained in the O’Brien County Jail in Primghar.
