Allegedly Drunken October Swim at West Des Moines Beach Lands Couple in Hot Water

A morning swim at Raccoon River Beach landed a metro couple in their late 20s in hot water Monday.

West Des Moines police were sent to the beach, 2500 Grand Ave., about 11 a.m. after witnesses said the scantily-dressed couple had been falling down as they walked along the beach.

Arrested and charged with public intoxication were Devin Michael Scharnhorst, 27 of 708 E. Madison Ave., and Patricia Lea Bales, 32, of 8436 Harbach Blvd., Clive.

Bales’ blood alcohol content was .337  – more than four times the legal limit in iowa, 0.08 – and Scharnhorst’s was .137, according to the police report.

When Officer Jeff Logan arrived, Scharnhorst was walking on the beach wearing a pair of boxer briefs and Bales had on a swim top and a pair of shorts, according to the report. Both were soaking wet, and both were reportedly unsteady on their feet and appeared to be helping one another walk as they walked toward Logan’s patrol car.

When Logan asked the pair if it was their clothing he found on a rock near the beach, they said it was and that they had just jumped out of the water and were cold, according to the report.

Temperatures were in the 60s after an overnight low of 64. The high temperature Monday was 73, according to the National Weather Service.

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