Man pleads not guilty to fleeing, speeding
Published 7:54 am Sunday, April 24, 2016
An Grand Meadow man is facing five charges after fleeing a police officer who tried to stop him for a broken headlight.
Wesley Robert Koball, 22, pled guilty to felony fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle, misdemeanor fourth-degree DWI and possessing over 1.4 grams of marijuana, petty misdemeanor of possessing drug paraphernalia and speeding 90 mph in a 55 mph zone.
At about 1:29 a.m. on Jan. 17, Grand Meadow officers saw a 2001 Mercury Mountaineer driving northbound on Third Street Northeast. The driver’s side headlight was broken and officers tried to initiate a traffic stop, according to court records.
The Mountaineer drove away at a high rate of speed and drove through a stop sign at the intersection of First Avenue Northeast. It continued north to Highway 16, drove though another stop sign and then turned west without using a turn signal and then increased its speed to 90 mph.
The vehicle stopped about one mile outside of city limits and the driver was identified as Koball. Officers asked Koball to get out of the car and he made exaggerated movements, paced around and spoke rapidly. They also saw scratches and scabs on his face and believed him to be under the influence of methamphetamine. Koball told officers he smoked meth a few hours earlier.
Koball said he saw the cop’s emergency lights and didn’t stop. He then said, “I made a mistake.”
He said he didn’t check in with his probation agent and thought there might be a warrant for his arrest.
A small bag of marijuana, a drug pipe, a small plastic straw and a utility knife was found on Koball. Koball failed three field sobriety tests and then officers arrested him and transported him to Mower County Jail.
Another drug pipe and open bottle of liquor was found in the vehicle. Koball’s next appearance is scheduled for May 2.