Recently-paroled drug offender caught drunk driving for at least third time

MASON CITY – A man who was in prison for felony drug offense and paroled just last year was caught drunk driving in a speeding vehicle.

A Cerro Gordo county deputy conducted a traffic stop on a speeding vehicle August 31 at about 12:21 near 10th Avenue South and South Shore Drive in Clear Lake. After an investigation, the driver, 53-year-old felon Sam William Velau, was arrested on numerous charges.

Velau was taken to the county jail on charges of driving while barred, first-offense operating while intoxicated, driving while revoked, failure to install ignition interlock device, driving with a cancelled license and other traffic violations.

Velau later posted $500.00 bond and was released from jail.

Velau, who has at least two prior drunk driving arrests, was paroled from an Iowa prison last year. He had been sent there for up to 15 years for felony charges of meth and marijuana possession.