The Ottumwa Police Department responded late on December 9 to a reported domestic disturbance in the 800 block of West Second Street. The call came in at approximately 11:58 p.m., and officers arrived to find a situation that quickly escalated into a serious criminal investigation.
According to police, 30-year-old Johnson Anrak of Ottumwa appeared to be under the influence of alcohol when officers made contact with him. They reported a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his person, along with watery, bloodshot eyes and an unsteady balance.
Officers say Anrak had chosen to operate a motor vehicle with his children inside despite his condition. Court records state he consented to a preliminary breath test, which registered a BRAC of .302%, more than three times the legal limit.
Investigators noted that Anrak, as the father of the children, acted in a manner he knew was reckless and placed the children in danger.
Anrak was taken into custody and transported to the Wapello County Jail. He is currently being held on charges of Operating While Under the Influence, first offense (serious misdemeanor), and four counts of Neglect or Abandonment of a Dependent Person, a Class C felony.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 18. His bond has been set at $11,000 cash or surety.
