Hunter
09/07/21
An Iowa City woman with a history of OWI convictions has been charged with the offense again.
Police were called to the 300 block of Amhurst Street Monday afternoon for the report of a drunk driver. The reporting party, who said they had cellphone video of 42-year-old Natalie Roberts driving her Toyota Sienna, said Roberts was on her way to get more alcohol. She was also reportedly mixing prescription medications with the alcohol. The reporting party added that they had seen Roberts intoxicated earlier in the day.
Arriving officers located Roberts sitting in her vehicle with the ignition key. She allegedly admitted to drinking liquor and acknowledged that she shouldn’t be driving.
Roberts refused any evidentiary testing, but reportedly admitted that she probably would’ve tested above the legal limit had she agreed to be tested. She allegedly had bloodshot watery eyes, smelled strongly of ingested alcohol, had thick slurred speech, could barely stand up, and had to repeatedly use support to stand or walk. Roberts also reportedly had liquor bottles in her purse.
A check of court records showed three prior OWI convictions, including one from October 2018 when KCJJ reported her blood-alcohol level at nearly five times the legal limit. Police found her on 6th street in the early morning hours of October 8th, crawling away from a one-vehicle accident involving a street sign. She allegedly showed multiple signs of intoxication, could not stand up, and began to undress while what the officer described as “wailing nonsensically.”
She received a five-year suspended sentence in that instance. For Monday’s incident, Roberts has been charged with OWI 3rd or Subsequent, Driving while Barred, and Driving while Revoked. If convicted on all counts, she faces up to 8 years in prison.