Lang
7/5/19
A West Branch man spent his 4th of July eating grass and ice cubes in an attempt to avoid a drunken boating charge at the Coralville Reservoir.
That’s according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. According to arrest records, 20-year-old Christopher McTaggart of Green View Drive was stopped by DNR officers after his boat was spotted going too fast through the no-wake zone at Mehaffey Bridge just after 4:15 Thursday afternoon.
Investigators noticed several intoxicated people on the boat, including a girl passed out in her own vomit in the back seat. Empty alcohol containers were found inside the vessel, and McTaggart allegedly admitted to drinking.
McTaggart was told by a DNR officer not to put anything in his mouth, but he allegedly proceeded to put ice cubes in his mouth anyway. After a second warning, he put more ice cubes in his mouth.
Once the boat was towed ashore, McTaggart allegedly put grass and dirt in his mouth. The DNR officer told him to spit it out, but he allegedly grabbed more and put it in his mouth.
McTaggart allegedly showed multiple signs of intoxication on field sobriety tests. After the tests, he allegedly reached down and put more grass in his mouth.
McTaggart registered a .188 on a portable Breathalyzer test and .154 on a Datamaster. He’s charged with Operating a Motorboat While Intoxicated and Interference with Official Acts.