A West Des Moines man faces multiple charges, including his fifth arrest for OWI in seven years, after he was stopped for speeding Sunday afternoon.
David Joe Stenger, 52, of 8215 Ashworth Road, West Des Moines, was charged with third-offense OWI, driving while barred-habitual offender, possession of a controlled substance, interference with official acts-bodily injury and operating vehicle without interlock.
The incident began about 5 p.m. Sunday in the 7600 block of Ashworth Road, where officers of the West Des Moines Police Department pulled over a 2015 Chevrolet Cruze, driven by Stenger and traveling 48 mph in a 35 mph zone, according to court records.
Stenger presented officers with “a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his breath” and “slurred speech,” according to court records, and he made “admission statements of alcohol consumption.”
According to court records, Stenger “exhibited mood swings” and “was unable to follow directions.” He got out of his vehicle and was directed by an officer to return to his vehicle, but Stenger “continued to walk away from the vehicle” and “would not follow the lawful order” from the officer.
Stenger was directed to put his hands behind his back. He did not comply, according to court records, be instead he allegedly “tried to forcefully pull his arms away from” the officer who was trying to handcuff him.
Stenger “refused field sobriety testing and refused a preliminary breath test,” according to court records.
A “small bag of a white, powdered substance, consistent with cocaine,” was “located near the driver’s middle console,” according to court records. The substance field tested positive for cocaine.
Stenger is held in the Dallas County Jail on a $5,000 cash-only bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing March 18 in Dallas County District Court.
Stenger was convicted of interference with official acts in 1991 and 1994 in Polk County District Court. He was convicted of first-offense OWI in 2015 in Polk County District Court. He was convicted of first-offense OWI in 2016 in Polk County District Court. He was convicted of third-offense OWI and interference with official acts in 2018 in Dallas County District Court. He was convicted of third-offense OWI and driving while barred in 2019 in Polk County District Court.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is innocent until and unless proven guilty.
