On October 29, 2021, at approximately 12:20AM, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office they received reports of a vehicle that had driven off the roadway, and a male subject was laying down along the roadway near the Lee County / Henry County line on U.S. Highway 218. Deputies found a vehicle and male subject near the intersection of 335th Street/Highway 218 in Henry County.
After an investigation, it was found that Eric Quinten Novak (38 years of age) of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, had been driving his 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada southbound on Highway 218 and drove off into the westside ditch along the roadway. Novak struck a barbed wire fence after driving off the roadway. He then drove the vehicle back through the fence in an attempt to leave the scene, but the vehicle became stuck in the ditch.
Novak was found lying on the shoulder of the roadway by motorists. After deputies arrived, Novak was processed for a suspected O.W.I. due to being under the influence of narcotics.
Novak was subsequently placed under arrest and transported to the Henry County Jail without incident where he was later charged with O.W.I. First Offense (Serious Misdemeanor), Possession of a Controlled Substance Third Offense (Class D Felony), and Criminal Mischief in the Fifth Degree (Simple Misdemeanor). Novak also received citations for no valid driver’s license, no insurance, failing to maintain control of a motor vehicle, and open container by a driver 21 years old & older.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office assisted with this investigation.