Scott Ourth
A state representative from central Iowa has been charged with drunk driving after a weekend arrest in northwest Iowa.
Sixty-year-old Scott Ourth is a Democrat from Ackworth who represents part of Warren County in the Iowa House. A report from Cherokee Police indicates an officer saw a pick-up driving without its headlights on at about about 9:30 Saturday night. Ourth smelled of alcohol, according to the police report, and tests found his blood alcohol level was above the legal limit.
In a statement, Ourth said he made a “terrible mistake,” accepts full responsibility and plans to seek professional counseling.
Ourth was charged with a first offense of operating while intoxicated. He faces a minimum of 48 consecutive hours in jail, but that could be waived under certain circumstances — for example, if Ourth’s blood alcohol level was below 0.15.
(Additional reporting by Iowa Public Radio’s Katarina Sostaric)