Hunter
06/21/21
An Iowa City man and his significant other face jail time after a traffic stop reportedly found him under the influence, and the woman with a loaded gun while intoxicated.
Arrest reports indicate the incident occurred just before 2:30am Sunday near the intersection of Burlington and Capitol Streets. 28-year-old Lutha Wallace of Shamrock Place was observed operating a vehicle with an inoperable license plate light. When the officer also allegedly saw Wallace with a bar wristband on, he initiated a traffic stop.
Wallace was reportedly given several lawful orders to step out of the vehicle, but refused and had to be forcefully removed from the vehicle. He allegedly tensed his muscles, pushed his body away from officers and made several threats of violence towards police during the interaction.
Wallace reportedly had bloodshot watery eyes, slurred speech and had the odor of ingested alcohol. He allegedly admitted to drinking before getting behind the wheel. Wallace showed measurable impairment on field tests, but refused to submit to a PBT or Datamaster test.
Wallace’s passenger was identified as 28-year-old Marcia Smith-Buckhalter, who is his significant other and resides with him. She was reportedly found with a Smith and Wesson .380 handgun in her purse with a round chambered. The weapon was within arm’s reach of Wallace, between the woman’s legs. Smith-Buckhalter admitted to having several drinks and blew a .200 on a preliminary breath test.
Wallace faces charges of OWI 1st offense, Interference with Official Acts, and Dominion or Control of a Firearm as a Convicted Felon. He could be sentenced to over six years in prison if convicted.
Smith-Buckhalter was charged with Possession or Carrying of Weapons while Intoxicated, a serious misdemeanor punishable by a jail sentence of up to one year if convicted.