An Iowa City man faces second-offense OWI charges after attempting to flee when Iowa City police approached his vehicle early Monday morning.

According to a complaint by the Iowa City police, officers located what appeared to be a broken-down Ford Ranger on the side of the road at the intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 218. The complaint said officers approached the vehicle and saw Mario Flores, 31, run from in front of the vehicle into the ditch and attempt to escape.

Officers found Flores allegedly hiding in tall grass in the ditch, approximately 100 yards from the vehicle. Upon contact with Flores, officers reported a strong odor of alcohol on his breath and a lack of coordination. Flores allegedly admitted to being drunk.

The complaint said the vehicle’s keys were in the ignition in the on position, and the headlights and windshield wipers were on. Flores allegedly failed field-sobriety tests and submitted to a breath test, which showed his blood alcohol content to be over the .08 legal limit.

Flores has one previous OWI conviction.

— by Matt Starns