(KIWA Staff Photo)
Rock Rapids, Iowa — A Rock Rapids woman has been arrested on a felony OWI charge.
According to a criminal complaint filed with the Lyon County Clerk of Court’s Office by the county sheriff’s office, 34-year-old Katie Geerdes of Rock Rapids is accused of driving drunk. She was arrested on Saturday night.
In his statement, the deputy says he was called to the Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital parking lot where it was reported that Geerdes had driven to. When he got there, she was inside the building. The deputy says he offered standardized field sobriety tests, which Geerdes agreed to. However she was only able to complete one of them as she couldn’t stand on her own. The deputy said she also had a strong odor of alcohol, slow and slurred speech, and was holding the keys to her car.
Geerdes was charged with operating while intoxicated, third or subsequent offense. If convicted, she could face up to five years in prison.
A preliminary hearing in the case is set for August 12th, 2026.
At last report, Geerdes remained in the Lyon County Jail in Rock Rapids in lieu of a $5,000 bond.
