(Spirit Lake)– Spirit Lake police arrested an Ames man over the weekend on drunken driving and drug charges.
Police say 26-year-old Derek Neppl was charged with failure to maintain control; operating while intoxicated, first offense; possession of a controlled substance…marijuana; and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Authorities say Neppl was driving a Dodge Stratus eastbound on Highways nine and 71 near Chicago Avenue around 2:45 a.m. Sunday when he failed to negotiate a curve and collided struck a storm sewer inlet. Authorities say Neppl continued on to a nearby boat ramp where police found him as he was changing a tire. Police say a subsequent search of the vehicle turned up a baggie with some green plant material alleged to be marijuana along with some drug paraphernalia.
Neppl was booked into the Dickinson county jail.
