A Perry man was arrested early Sunday while allegedly driving drunk and armed with his family.
Ramon Obdulio Malara-Cerna, 32, of 2020 Evelyn St., Perry, was charged with second-offense OWI, child endangerment, dominion/control of a firearm by a felon and possession or carrying of dangerous weapons while intoxicated.
The incident began about 2:15 a.m. Sunday on Iowa Highway 141 near Bouton, where a Dallas County Deputy Sheriff responded to a report of reckless driving.
On 08-20-2023 at approximately 0221 hours I was dispatched to a reckless driver. I conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and observed the defendant was the
driver of the vehicle.
The deputy initiated a traffic stop and made contact with Malara-Cerne, who was observed to have “bloodshot, watery eyes” and “multiple open containers inside of the vehicle,” according to court records.
Malara-Cerna allegedly failed some field sobriety tests and refused others. He blew a .181 on a preliminary breath alcohol content test, according to court records. His wife and 2-year-old son were in the vehicle with him.
Malara-Cerna was held in the Dallas County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug. 30 in Dallas County District Court.
Malara-Cerna was convicted of OWI in 2019 in Clarke County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
