An Ark City man arrested Monday evening for driving while intoxicated is also suspected of driving through several area wheat fields and damaging them, authorities said.
James D. Mort Jr., 32, was arrested on suspicion of DUI and criminal damage to property. His bond was set at $3,300 and he was released from the Cowley County Jail Tuesday.
Around 7:30 p.m. Monday, deputies were called to an area in the 25000 block of 41st Rd. to investigate a report of field and crop damage. Subsequent investigation led authorities to Mort, who had already been arrested for DUI by police in Ark City.
Five farmers reported damage to their fields, consisting mostly of ruts, undersheriff Bill Mueller said.
Mueller said the nature of the damage made it difficult to determine a dollar amount in regard to the harm done to the fields.
