Passenger allegedly flees vehicle during DWI stop
Published 9:28 am Saturday, December 1, 2018
A DWI stop Friday morning led to the arrest of the driver and the passenger.
According to Mower County Chief Deputy Mark May, a deputy was on patrol at 12:50 a.m. on Friday when he observed a vehicle going southbound in front of the squad car near County Road 61 and County Road 16. The vehicle crossed the fog line several times as it entered the Austin city limits, prompting the deputy to initiate a traffic stop.
The driver, Lori Moore, 27, of Austin was arrested after failing several field sobriety tests, according to May. The deputy was familiar with the passenger, Christopher John Marcks, 26, of Brownsdale, and knew he had warrants for terroristic threats and theft out of Mower County. When the deputy asked Marcks if he had warrants, Marcks denied that he did, then exited the vehicle and ran into a wooded area near 12th Avenue Northeast.
May said the deputy called for backup and gave chase. Austin police joined the pursuit, tracking Marcks’ footprints in the snow. An officer located a shoe, then observed a sock covered foot and leg sticking out of a leaf pile near a dead end at 10th Place Northeast and 18th Street Northeast. Marcks was removed from the pile at gunpoint and arrested.
Moore was booked into the Mower County Jail and later released. She is facing a possible charge of DWI-under the influence of a controlled substance.
Marcks was charged on Friday in Mower County District Court with misdemeanor fleeing an officer not in a motor vehicle, to which he pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to one year of probation and fined $185. He must also remain law abiding; failure to do so could result in 30 days in jail.