Storm Lake Man Faces Felony After Violent OWI Arrest in Buena Vista

Deputies found 26-year-old Cody Ron Hapes passed out in his car at the Casey’s in Alta around 4 a.m. on January 11, authorities say. A witness said he had hit a curb, and a breath test later showed his blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit.

What began as an OWI investigation quickly escalated, according to the reporting. "Things escalated during the arrest and the trip to the hospital." Hapes was taken into custody and transported to a hospital during processing; the reporting indicates several alleged assaults and threats occurred during the arrest and hospital contact.

Authorities say Hapes is accused of kicking out a patrol car window, which caused about four thousand dollars in damage. He also allegedly kicked a deputy, tried to bite a jailer and spit on a nurse at the hospital. Authorities say he also made death threats toward officers and jail staff during the incident.

Buena Vista County charging information in the public reports lists a second-degree criminal mischief count among nine total charges. Hapes is charged with second-degree criminal mischief and eight other counts including harassment and assault. He is being held on a $10,000 bond; a bond review hearing is scheduled for February 23.

The incident places additional strain on local first responders and county jail staff already familiar to Storm Lake and Alta communities. The patrol car damage estimate and the allegations of assaults on deputies and medical staff are now part of the pending criminal case against Hapes; the county attorney’s office will handle prosecution if the charges are filed as reported.

A separate Storm Lake OWI arrest that preceded this case illustrates the county’s ongoing enforcement activity. At about 12:50 a.m. on Dec. 26, an officer stopped a vehicle in the 900 block of West Milwaukee Avenue; police say the driver, 28-year-old Rafael Huerta Garcia of Storm Lake, showed signs of impairment. Authorities later charged Huerta Garcia with operating while intoxicated, third or subsequent offense—a Class D felony—and with violation of license restrictions, a simple misdemeanor. Huerta Garcia was booked into the Buena Vista County Jail on a $5,175 bond.

Public reporting of the Hapes arrest does not include the full charging document, the exact numerical BAC result, the hospital’s name, the identities of deputies or medical staff, or any prior criminal history for Hapes. Those details remain to be confirmed through official arrest reports, booking records and the Buena Vista County Attorney’s filings. The bond review hearing on February 23 will be the next scheduled court event linked to the Hapes case as reported.