An Eddyville man is facing a felony operating while intoxicated charge after being found sitting idle at an intersection with a blown tire and debris in the roadway from driving on the rim.
Russell McGee, 53, of Eddyville has been charged with Operating While Under the Influence — Third or Subsequent Offense, a Class D Felony. The alleged incident occurred at approximately 10:55 p.m. on Saturday, August 22nd.
According to court documents, a deputy observed McGee’s vehicle stopped at the intersection of Oak and Harrison streets in Richland with a blown front passenger side tire and debris in the roadway from the vehicle having been driven on the rim. Upon making contact with McGee, the sole occupant of the vehicle, the deputy observed bloodshot and watery eyes and slurred speech. McGee admitted to consuming an alcoholic beverage.
McGee failed the horizontal gaze nystagmus test and refused the remaining standardized field sobriety tests. He consented to a preliminary breath test, which indicated a blood alcohol content above the legal limit of .08 percent. He was then read the implied consent advisory and consented to a DataMaster breath test, which indicated a blood alcohol content of .233 percent.
Court documents show McGee has prior OWI convictions in Appanoose County on January 24th, 2017, in Mahaska County on July 6th, 2020, and again in Appanoose County on April 16th, 2024.
McGee has since posted a $5,000 surety bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for September 2nd.
