West Des Moines Police Have Second Case of Man Allegedly Passed Out With Foot on Car's Brake

For the second time in about two weeks, West Des Moines police had to shut off a running vehicle when the driver was allegedly passed out inside with a foot on the brake.

In both cases, the vehicle was running and the gearshift was in the drive position.

The most recent incident was on Aug. 19 at 1259 Glen Oaks Drive. Officer Aaron Swenson wrote in his report that the driver was “drooling from the mouth,” had his cell phone in his right hand and was unresponsive when police knocked loudly at the window several times, and then shined a flashlight in his face.

Swenson said the driver, later identified as Victor Kimeli Mwirotsi, 24, 1329 University Ave. in Waukee, came awake slowly and as he did so, he took his foot off the brake. The vehicle moved slowly into a driveway, then onto the grass, almost striking a mailbox, according to the police report.

“It appeared Mwirotsi was going to accelerate on the gas, so I continued to knock, but he did not even acknowledge me. I continued to knock on the window and shine a light in his face," Swenson wrote.

Swenson said that he asked Mwirotsi to put the vehicle in park, "but he was unable to do so" when asked, so Swenson had to do it for him.

Police found another man of his vehicle, which was running with the gershift in drive, on Aug. 11.

Mwirotsi was charged with operating while under the influence, second offense.