Hunter
09/23/23
A Des Moines man was arrested early Friday after he allegedly was intoxicated behind the wheel after bar close.
19-year-old Emmanuel Lugala of Franklin Avenue was stopped for speeding in the area of Burlington and Front streets just after 2:45 am. Upon contact, he allegedly had bloodshot watery eyes, impaired speech and the odor of ingested alcohol. He also allegedly stated that the wristbands he was wearing were just given to him by the bars he visited that night. Lugala reportedly admitted to drinking and exhibited measurable impairment on field sobriety tests. A Datamaster test showed a BAC of .152 percent.
A search of Lugala reportedly turned up a vaporizer device that he allegedly said contained a THC cartridge.
He also asked for his cellphone and wallet, which were retrieved from his vehicle. Police reportedly found a fictitious Iowa ID inside, with his name and photo but a false date of birth making him appear to be of drinking age.
Lugala was charged with OWI first offense, marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a fictitious ID. If convicted on all counts, he could be sentenced to up to over three years in jail.