Police: Man Who Rides Cart, Steals Two Cars, Charged With Intox Twice in Same Day

A 24-year-old Ames man charged with public intoxication after riding a cart down Chamberlain Street moved on to bigger wheels after being released from Story County Jail, according to criminal complaints.

Brandon J. Bowman of Rockwell Ave., first attracted a police officer's attention about 2 a.m. Saturday July 27, while holding an open bottle of beer near the Kum & Go gas station, complaints said. He dumped out the bottle when asked, but jumped on a Kum & Go cart and rode it down the middle of Chamberlain Street, complaints said. Police stopped him about a block away. Bowman's blood alcohol tested at 0 percent but he was charged with public intoxication and taken to the Story County Jail without incident, complaints said.

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Later that same day, police went to investigate a report of a man throwing objects at windows in the 100 block of Welch Avenue and found Bowman with bloodshot eyes, complaints said. He kept asking about “meth” and said he had, had a beer earlier, complaints said. He refused a chemical test, but police found a drug paraphernalia pipe in his possession, complaints said. This was about 6 p.m. Saturday.

Sometime between his release from jail that morning and the second public intoxication incident, Bowman allegedly stole two cars and damaged both of them.

Police found the first stolen (and damaged) green Mercury Tracer parked at 1220 Walton Drive about 10 a.m. Saturday, complaints said. During the investigation, Bowman told police that he was angry so he punched the windshield causing the window to crack, complaints said. The vehicle was stolen outside the city, complaints said.

Then at about 2 p.m. Bowman entered a red Mitsubishi GT300 parked at JAX Outdoor Gear, found the keys and drove it outside the city committing other crimes before parking it at the Iowa State University Athletic Complex, complaints said.

During the drive, Bowman struck an unknown object causing paint and body damage to the front bumper and rear passenger tire. The engine was damaged as well, complaints said.

Bowman was charged with second-degree theft, operating a vehicle without owners consent, second-degree criminal mischief, fifth-degree criminal mischief and an additional count of public intoxication.

Monday, Bowman was listed as an inmate at the Story County Jail. He was being held on a $20,000 bond. Second-degree theft and second-degree criminal mischief are Class D felonies punishable by up to five years in prison. Information on the crimes Bowman allegedly committed outside the city was not yet available.