State Rep. Scott Ourth, D-Ackworth, was arrested for an OWI last weekend according to a criminal complaint filed with the Cherokee County Clerk of Court.
According to the complaint, Ourth, 60, was pulled over on Saturday at approximately 9:30p by the Cherokee police department. The arresting officer noticed that Ourth was driving without his headlights. When pulled over, the officer also noted in the complaint that he smelled “a strong odor of alcohol.” Upon administering a field sobriety test, Ourth allegedly demonstrated signs of intoxication.
Ourth also blew a .084 on a preliminary breath test and registered a .182 on a DataMaster breath test, which is more than twice the legal limit of .08.
Ourth has served in the Iowa House since 2013. He serves Iowa House District 26 that includes most of northern Warren County and the southeast corner of the state, including Indianola, Martensdale, Hartford, Ackworth, and Lacona. In 2019, he served on the Agriculture, Economic Growth, National Resources, and Veterans Affairs committees. He is the ranking member on the Natural Resources Committee. Ourth also serves on the Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee.
This arrest is not Ourth’s first OWI. According to online court records, in 2000, he was arrested for an OWI 2nd offense in Wapello County. Sometime before that, he was charged with OWI 1st offense. Since that arrest was more than 12 years ago, Ourth is charged with OWI 1st Offense, which is a serious misdemeanor that carries a minimum sentence is 48 hours with the maximum penalty being a year in jail.
I don’t have much tolerance for state or federal lawmakers who break the law. I have called on Republican lawmakers to resign in the past for OWI arrests. I believe Ourth should do the same. Our lawmakers must hold a higher standard.