Oxford man faces weapons, OWI charge after nearly hitting Coralville squad car

An Oxford man was arrested on suspicion of carrying weapons and third offense operating while intoxicated early Tuesday morning after officers say he nearly hit a squad car with his truck and had a large knife within reach.

Officers were called to the 400 block of 21st Ave. Place in Coralville at 12:51 a.m. Tuesday after receiving a call about an intoxicated man outside a Coralville home. As officers arrived, a truck nearly collided with an officer's squad car. The driver, Justin J. Baxter, 30, of 1840 Lower Old Highway 6 Road, Oxford, was identified as the suspect.

Officers found a knife with a blade more than eight inches long under the driver's seat of Baxter's truck. Baxter also had red bloodshot eyes, smelled of alcohol, and registered a  .127 blood alcohol content on a preliminary breath test, Coralville police said.

Baxter was being held at the Johnson County Jail Wednesday morning.

Carrying weapons is an aggravated misdemeanor. Third offense OWI is a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a maximum $9,375 fine.