MASON CITY – A woman who was stopped at her home and caught with the highly-illegal drug methamphetamine now faces a drunk driving charge.
A Cerro Gordo county deputy conducted a traffic stop at 1:45 AM on Friday, November 10 at a house in the 500 block of South Massachusetts Avenue. The driver, 59-year-old Patricia Lee Lauritsen, allegedly committed a traffic violation. After an investigation, Lauritsen was arrested for open container of alcohol and possession of meth. An was investigation underway as to whether Lauritsen was intoxicated, pending lab results, the sheriff’s office said at the time.
After an investigation, a charge of first-offense operating while intoxicated was added to Lauritsen’s case. She now awaits a jury trial scheduled for February 27.
In 2002, Lauritsen was charged with several felony drug crimes in Worth county. She took a plea deal to lesser offenses and was given suspended prison sentences, probation, and had to pay $2,392.04 in court costs and other fees.
LAURITSEN, PATRICIA LEE:
