A Decorah man was arrested Sunday evening after police said officers observed him driving despite being barred from operating a vehicle. The arrest followed a police investigation on Highway 9 near the Decorah airport.
According to a Decorah Police Department news release, officers spotted a silver GMC Acadia at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Oct. 25. Police suspected the driver did not have a valid driving status and attempted to locate the vehicle while confirming the driver’s license information.
Authorities said officers found the SUV a short time later as the driver was parking and exiting the vehicle. Police identified the driver as Fredrick Jones, 46, of Decorah.
Charge filed
Police arrested Jones and transported him to the Winneshiek County Jail. He was charged with Driving While Barred-Habitual Offender, an aggravated misdemeanor under Iowa law.
Jones was being held pending an initial court appearance. The source material does not provide the date or location of that appearance.
Potential penalties and presumption of innocence
Under Iowa law, an aggravated misdemeanor carries a potential penalty of a fine ranging from $855 to $8,540 and up to two years in prison upon conviction.
Criminal charges are accusations. Authorities emphasized that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.