Hunter
01/03/25
An Oxford man faces OWI and drug charges after being stopped for an equipment violation.
Just before 3am New Year’s Day, 31-year-old Mitchel McNeal of James Boulevard NW was stopped near the intersection of 2nd Street and 11th Avenue in Coralville because his license plate lights were not functioning.
The officer reported that McNeal had a strong odor of ingested alcohol and asked him how much he had to drink prior to driving. He allegedly admitted to having 8 beers with his last drink being about 45 minutes prior to the traffic stop.
McNeal reportedly showed significant impairment on field sobriety tests, and provided a breath sample on a Datamaster showing his breath-alcohol level at .112 percent.
A post arrest search was conducted, and McNeal allegedly admitted that he had a white powdery substance in his pocket that was cocaine. He also told police there was more cocaine in the center console of the vehicle.
McNeal faces first offense OWI and a Controlled Substance violation. If convicted on both charges, he could be sentenced to up to two years in jail.