(county photo)
MASON CITY – A Mason City man accused by police of drunk driving after a complaint of shots fired in city limits has been sent to jail.
Mason City police responded at 12:36 AM Monday, August 31, 2015, to a report of gun shots in the area south of 1st Street SW and Monroe Avenue.
Officers arrived and began investigating. They found 2 discharged shotgun shells in the yard at 110 South Monroe. While checking the area, the resident of 110 South Monroe drove up to the house in view of the officers, who then noticed evidence of recent alcohol consumption. They evaluated the driver/resident, 42-year-old William Martin Joseph Loehr, for intoxication.
As a result, Loehr was arrested for first offense operating while intoxicated. That charge was later upgraded to second offense operating while intoxicated because a Kossuth county jury found him guilty of drunk driving back in 2011. He was also charged with discharging a firearm in city limits. A police spokesman said officers were unable to find any noticeable damage to surrounding properties at that time.
However, in a plea deal, Loehr pleaded guilty only to disorderly conduct – loud or raucous noise, after county prosecutors moved to amend the charges on March 14. A judge sent him to jail for four days as a result. He must also pay $397.00 in court costs. The charge of discharging a firearm in city limits appears to have been dismissed.
I hear gun shots a lot at night. By the time the police show up the people firing the guns are in hiding and are never caught. These are not licensed gun holders doing this, but are druggers who get high and fire illegal weapons. We know who it is but the police can’t do anything until they are caught in the act, or kill someone.
Just wrong, what the hell is going on with our court system? Are the jails just that full that they don’t want to put any more people in them?
That’s my dad, you boy