March 29, 2024

Former NPD officer pleads guilty to OWI, weapons charges

Hamell to be sentenced Dec. 28

A former Newton Police officer pleaded guilty this week to operating while under the influence and weapons charges and will be sentenced later this month.

Dustin S. Hamell, 30, pleaded guilty last month in district court to both carrying weapons and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, first offense. He’s set to return to court Dec. 28 for sentencing.

The charges stem from an Aug. 30 arrest in which Hamell — who was an off-duty NPD officer at the time — was pulled over on Interstate 80 between Mitchellville and Colfax and was found to have a loaded weapon within his reach.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, shortly after 10 p.m. on Aug. 30, state troopers received a radio call about an eastbound truck that was “all over the road” near mile marker 149. A state patrol vehicle caught up to the truck near mile marker 151, observing the truck swerving, nearly striking a concrete construction barricade, and varying speed between 40 and 60 mph.

State patrol pulled the vehicle over east of the construction zone near Colfax. Hamell had slurred speech and he told police he had both loaded and unloaded handguns in the driver’s side door and was taken back to a patrol car for interviewing.

Hamell refused all impairment tests except the breath test, which revealed a .231 blood alcohol level — nearly three times Iowa’s legal limit. He was unsure how much alcohol he had consumed that evening.

In the driver’s door panel, state patrol found a Ruger LC9 handgun with one round in the chamber and three rounds in the magazine. Hamell also had unopened cans of Bud Light in his truck.

Newton Police Chief Rob Burdess declined to say if Hamell’s NPD employment later ended mutually or in a resignation or termination.

“After the arrest, Hamell was placed on administrative leave,” Burdess said. “Hamell separated from employment with the City of Newton on Oct. 7. Due to this being a personnel issue, I cannot comment further.”

Hamell was placed on paid leave last year after a July 2015 incident in which a domestic abuse charge was filed against him by his former fianceé. He returned to regular duty in October after both a jury trial acquittal and an internal NPD investigation.

Hamell was hired by NPD in August of 2012 prior to attending the state’s police academy. The 2004 Carlisle High School graduate served six years in the Air Force in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and was awarded a Purple Heart.

The maximum sentences are two years of incarceration on the weapons charge and one year on the OWI charge. Both sentences can include as much as thousands of dollars in fines.

Contact Jason Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6532 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com