An intoxicated Ottumwa man faces charges after allegedly possessing drugs and disturbing his previous girlfriend and his children.
45-year-old Joel Luke was charged with possession of controlled substance – 3rd offense, possession of drug paraphernalia, and public intoxication.
In the afternoon of July 18, court records say Luke was reported for disturbance while standing by the street outside of the library on West 3rd Street. Police say they observed Luke near a vehicle occupied by his former girlfriend and his children.
According to authorities, Luke’s pupils were non responsive to the sun, he had quick and repetitive speech, and was unable to maintain a conversation. Luke consented to an Standardized Field Sobriety Test and performed a modified Romberg test. Luke was unable to follow instructions and showed eye lid and body tremors. Police arrested Luke for the public offense.
Authorities conducted a search on Luke and 0.3 grams of methamphetamine was located in his front left shorts pocket inside his wallet. A homemade smoking pipe with residue was found in his front right pocket.
Police searched his backpack and found two used pipes, a used hypodermic needle/syringe, a burnt tube, three vape pen pieces, and a large syringe.
According to court records, Luke has two prior drug related convictions dating June 2022 and February 2023.
Luke was taken to the Wapello County Jail. He is being held without bond pending a hearing with a magistrate judge.
