Hunter
02/12/24
A traffic stop on Highway 218 has led to a Mount Pleasant man being charged with his third OWI.
According to police, 38-year-old Travis Brown was stopped on the southbound portion of the highway after allegedly making several severe lane violations. Upon contact, he reportedly smelled strongly of ingested alcohol, had bloodshot watery eyes, and slurred speech. He was told to turn off his vehicle and complied, but then started his vehicle and attempted to drive away. An Electronic Control Weapon was deployed to stop Brown. A number of open containers were also allegedly observed in Brown’s Honda.
After showing measurable impairment on field tests, he submitted to a PBT reportedly showing him above the legal limit to drive. The police report lists his Datamaster reading at .225 percent.
A check of Brown’s showed two previous OWI convictions, one from less than six months ago in Wapello County and another from 2012 in Des Moines County. Because of his most recent conviction, he was supposed to have an interlock device installed on his vehicle but it was not equipped.
He was charged with his third offense, which is a Class D Felony. He was additionally charged with circumventing an interlock device and interference with official acts. If convicted, Brown could be sentenced to over six years in prison.