Hospers, Iowa — While emergency responders were taking care of a fire call on Highway 60 near Hospers, an Orange City man was arrested on a felony charge.
The Sioux County Sheriff’s Office reports they arrested 42-year-old Justin Robert Soodsma of Orange City.
A deputy was providing traffic control and assisting the Iowa State Patrol and Hospers Fire Department with the fire incident on the roadway. Soodsma failed to safely approach the law enforcement vehicles that were parked on the side of the roadway with emergency lights activated.
Upon further investigation, the deputy suspected that Soodsma was intoxicated.
Soodsma was transported to the Sioux County Jail where he was charged with third-offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, a class D felony. If convicted, Soodsma could face up to five years in prison. He was also charged with misdemeanor counts of unsafe approach to stationary emergency vehicle, open container of alcohol in a vehicle, failure to provide proof of financial responsibility, (no insurance), and operation of a motor vehicle with expired vehicle registration.
The sheriff’s office was assisted by the Iowa State Patrol.
