Sheldon, Iowa — A George man has been arrested on felony OWI charges in Sheldon.
According to a criminal complaint filed with the O’Brien County Clerk of Court’s Office by the Sheldon Police Department, 64-year-old Mark Allen Kruse of George is accused of driving while under the influence in Sheldon. He was arrested on Wednesday.
In his statement, the officer says he saw Kruse driving north on Washington Avenue. He says he knew Kruse didn’t have a valid driver’s license. The officer says while he was speaking with Kruse, Kruse admitted to smoking meth approximately six hours before the traffic stop. The officer says Kruse had bloodshot watery eyes, and failed field sobriety tests. According to the officer, a drug recognition expert offered Kruse an evaluation. At the end of the evaluation, the expert said the defendant was unsafe to operate a motor vehicle because he was impaired by a stimulant. Kruse also refused to give a specimen of urine for chemical testing.
Kruse was charged with OWI, third offense, a class D felony. If convicted, Kruse could face up to five years in prison. He also faces misdemeanor charges of driving while barred and driving while license suspended.
He faces a preliminary hearing on the charges on March 25th.
At last report, Kruse remained in the O’Brien County Jail in Primghar.
