Coralville man facing theft charges after being found with stolen vehicle

Hunter
12/17/21

A Coralville man has been arrested after allegedly driving a stolen vehicle and operating under the influence.

Police say that they ran the plates on a 2008 Kia heading southbound on the 600 block of 12th Avenue in Coralville around 2:30 am Thursday and discovered it had been reported stolen out of Iowa City. A stop was conducted and the driver was identified as 34-year-old Darryl Minniefield of 21st Avenue Place.

Minniefield reportedly had bloodshot watery eyes and slurred speech. A search of the vehicle allegedly turned up an open bottle of Jim Beam whiskey that Minniefield admitted to drinking. A used needle was also reportedly found on the driver’s side of the vehicle with blood on the tip. Minniefield allegedly admitted to being the owner of the already-used needle.

A check of his driving records showed his status as barred, and found a previous OWI conviction in Johnson County from 2014. Minniefield refused to field sobriety and all chemical testing.

Minniefield was arrested and faces charges of 2nd degree Theft, OWI second offense, Driving while Barred, possession of drug paraphernalia, and violation of the Open Container law. If convicted on all counts, he faces a prison sentence of up to over nine years.