Chronic huffer arrested again

Lang
3/14/20

An Iowa City man with a history of huffing from aerosol cans has been arrested again for the same offense.

Iowa City Police were called to Walmart on Highway 1 West just before 11:45 Friday night for a man huffing cans of compressed air in the men’s room. Arriving officers could hear yelling from outside the restroom and went inside. That’s where they discovered 29-year-old Max Wehrle of Michael Street curled up on the ground with multiple cans of compressed air around him.

Police say Wehrle attempted to run away when they made contact. He also allegedly fought with police and arriving EMTs.

Walmart staff determined that Wehrle had stolen a dozen cans of compressed air valued at almost $60. He has previous trespassing and theft convictions for similar incidents at Walmart and other locations in the past.

Wehrle is charged with 3rd Degree Theft, Interference with Official Acts, 2nd Offense Trespassing and Public Intoxication. Of convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of 26 months in prison.