A Minnesota woman, driving a stolen van suspected of use in a homicide, was arrested on drug-and-alcohol charges Monday morning near the Van Meter exit of U.S. Interstate 80.
Arlene Theresa Bell, 32, of 6630 Nature Road N.W., Bemidji, Minnesota, was charged with second-offense OWI, second-degree theft-motor vehicle under $10,000, felon in possession of a firearm, providing false identification information, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and fifth-degree theft. She was also issued citations for open container, speeding, driving without a license and no insurance.
The incident began about 11:30 a.m. Monday on eastbound U.S. Interstate 80 near the 113 mile marker, where an Iowa State Patrol Trooper initiated a traffic stop on a 2005 Dodge Caravan for speeding in a construction zone.
The trooper made contact with the driver, Bell, who presented with “slurred speech” and a “lethargic” manner, according to court records. She was unable to provide an ID or vehicle registration.
The trooper asked Bell to “step out of the vehicle” and when she did, “she dropped a vape on the ground that she admitted contained marijuana,” according to court records.
While the trooper conducted a probable-cause search of Bell’s vehicle, Bell sat in the trooper’s patrol vehicle and “took it upon herself to remove a sealed Black Rifle coffee canned beverage from the patrol car’s cup holder, open it and begin consuming it,” according to court records. Bell “later admitted she knew this beverage was not her property but decided to drink it anyway.”
The search of the van disclosed “a meth pipe with burnt residue and multiple needles with Narcan” as well as “three open 12-ounce cans of Hamm’s beer and two cold, sealed cans,” according to court records.
In the rear seat, the trooper found “a large amount of 12-gauge ammunition,” according to court records.
After Bell was in the custody of the Dallas County Jail, it was learned from Minnesota law enforcement that the van she was driving was stolen and “was also wanted in connection with a possible homicide,” according to court records.
Bell is held in the Dallas County Jail on a $25,000 cash-only bond. She is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Feb. 16 in Dallas County District Court.
* A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Hamm’s! “From the Land of Sky Blue Waters”!