Hunter
02/21/22
A Coralville woman wanted on warrants faces several new charges after allegedly getting into an accident while drunk with her 7-month old child in the backseat.
Arrest reports indicate that 27-year-old Marquerite Johnson of 10th Street was driving a 2008 Kia Sedona Sunday night in North Liberty around 9:15. Witnesses said that Johnson failed to stop at the stop sign as she traveled south on Front Street, and lost control of the vehicle when she tried to turn east on Forevergreen Road. Johnson ended up crashing into a tree in the front yard of a residence.
Arriving officers reportedly detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage, and say that Johnson had slurred speech, unsteady balance, and the odor of alcohol coming from her person. After showing impairment during field sobriety tests, she provided a Datamaster sample showing her blood-alcohol level at .133 percent.
Johnson’s 7-month old child was in the backseat; she told police that the child was properly secured in the seat, facing backwards at the time of the accident. However, officers say the seat was not secured and facing frontward when they came upon the incident. The child had a small bump on their forehead.
Post Miranda, Johnson allegedly told police that she had wine at a North Liberty residence before getting behind the wheel. When she identified herself, officers found that she was wanted on warrants from two separate incidents.
On the afternoon of August 5th, Johnson and two other individuals kicked the door in to a residence on the 2000 block of Broadway Street, assaulted a woman inside, and damaged her property. The victim complained of being sore all over and a minor scratch was seen on her chest. A warrant was issued on December 15th.
On November 4th, Johnson was contacted in a vehicle parked at the Kum & Go on Heartland Way in North Liberty because officers found that the registered owner of the vehicle had an active warrant. Johnson reportedly identified herself as the wanted suspect, but changed it to another person’s name. She was eventually identified correctly, and a search of court records showed her license as barred.
Johnson was arrested Sunday night, and faces several charges. They include first degree burglary, providing false identification information, two counts of driving while barred as a habitual offender, first offense OWI, and Child Endangerment. If convicted on all charges, Johnson faces a prison term of over 32 years.