The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office has accused a Des Moines man of driving under the influence and trying to elude law enforcement.

Tommy Pinegar, 40, was charged March 9 with OWI and eluding.

According to a Johnson County Sheriff’s Office complaint, officials witnessed a vehicle traveling above the speed limit and turned around to catch up to the vehicle with the squad car’s lights and sirens engaged.

After a short pursuit, Pinegar allegedly drove into a ditch, jumped out of the vehicle, and ran into a cornfield. Pinegar was found after a short search; he had a confused appearance with a heavy slur, the complaint said.

Pineagar said he smoked marijuana and drank some alcoholic beverages earlier in the day, the complaint said.

Upon evaluation by a drug-recognition expert, Pineagar was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance and unable to operate a vehicle safely. He had what looked to be a used syringe in his back right pocket, the complaint said.

OWI is a serious misdemeanor. Eluding is a Class-D felony.

— by Rebecca Morin