Man Arrested on Multiple Misdemeanor Charges
Mahaska County Courthouse
by Shelly Spaur
Oskaloosa, Iowa – On November 23, 2013, at 1:50 a.m., Richard VandeWeerdhof, accused, was arrested on multiple charges. The charges that have been filed are; “Assault on persons engaged in certain occupations causing bodily injury, which is an aggravated misdemeanor, Interference with Official Acts causing injury, which is an aggravated misdemeanor, Disorderly Conduct, which is a simple misdemeanor, Public Intoxication, which is a simple misdemeanor, Littering, a simple misdemeanor, and Open Container, a simple misdemeanor.
The affidavit supporting these charges states,
“I, the undersigned, being duly sworn, state that the following facts known by me or told to me by other reliable persons form the basis of my belief that the Defendant committed this crime.
On the above date, time and location I (Officer Rice) observed Richard VandeWeerdhof standing in the street while holding an open bottle of beer and he appeared to be unsteady on his feet. I was driving a fully marked police vehicle and in full police uniform during this incident. VandeWeerdhof dropped the open bottle of beer as I attempted to make contact with him regarding the open container violation. I spoke with him and observed him to have a strong smell of alcohol about his person, red watery eyes, and slurred speech. VandeWeerdhof requested a breathalyzer test then attempted to flee on foot. I was able to take VandeWeerdhof to the ground and he attempted to strike me with his fists and elbows. During this brief struggle, he struck me in the lip causing my lip to bleed. I deployed the Taser to gain control of him and placed him under arrest.”
Disclosure: A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
