West Des Moines Man Allegedly Passed Out With Foot on Brake Is Cited for OWI

had to unlock a running car and slip the gear shift into park when they found a man allegedly passed out in his vehicle on an Interstate 235 offramp last weekend.

James Edward Davis Jr., 22, of 5631 Vista Drive, was charged with first offense drunken driving and possession of drug paraphernalia. Officer Aaron Swenson wrote in his report that when he arrived at the scene, a responder told him he could tell Davis was still alive because he could see him breathing.

The vehicle was stopped in the middle of the off-ramp of Interstate 235 eastbound near 1400 Valley West Drive about 11 p.m. Aug. 11.

Swenson reportedly tried to wake Davis by knocking on the window. When he received no response, he unlocked the passenger side and put the vehicle in park. As he returned to the driver’s side, Davis reportedly began to rev the engine and told Swenson he would “pull over” when he asked him to shut off the car’s engine.

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Swenson said he told Davis that he was passed out on the off-ramp and the driver again stated, “I will pull over.” He also reportedly told Swenson that he thought he was “OK to drive home, but was open to my opinion.”

A Breathalyzer test at 12:17 a.m. recorded a blood-alcohol content of .122, according to the report.

Swenson said that when the vehicle was searched, they found six unopened cans of cold beer and a marijuana pipe. Davis reportedly told Swenson that he had stopped smoking marijuana about a month before and the pipe “was there from a while back.”

“I want to grow up,” Davis reportedly said. “I’m done.”

In addition to the charges, Davis was also given a verbal warning for stopping in the middle of the road, according to the report.