Iowa City man suspected of driving while intoxicated reportedly had two children and a gun in his car

Lang
7/9/23

An Iowa City man suspected of driving drunk by Coralville Police reportedly had a gun and two children in the car.

According to arrest records, 64-year-old Chico Butt of Thornbury Avenue was driving his 2012 Chevy Traverse on Hayden Fry Way just after 11:45 Friday night when he went through a red light at 9th Street. Coralville Police pulled Butt over, and they report seeing two children in the back seat without their seat belts properly applied. Butt was also reportedly in possession of a 9mm handgun.

Police say Butt showed signs of intoxication, admitted to drinking, and refused breath testing. He reportedly showed signs of impairment on initial field sobriety testing before refusing further tests.

Butt, who has a 2003 Operating While Intoxicated conviction out of Cedar County, is now charged with 2nd Offense OWI, Possession of a Dangerous Weapon While Intoxicated, and two counts of Child Endangerment. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of seven years behind bars.