Jennifer Fjell of Stromsburg was arrested July 10 on four charges. Photo provided.
POLK COUNTY - On July 10th, Jennifer J. Fjell was arrested on four charges: obstructing a peace officer (class 1 dismeanor with a possible penalty of up to one year imprisonment, up to $100 fine or both); willful reckless driving (class III misdemeanor with possible penalty of up to three months imprisonment, up to $500 fine or both); leaving the scene of a property damage accident (class II misdemeanor with possible penalty of up to 6 months imprisonment, up to $1000 fine or both) and open container alcohol (infraction with $50 fine).
The hearing is set for September 12th at 10:30 a.m. in Polk County Court for pretrial and motion for discovery. Fjell entered a “not guilty” plea.
The affidavit from the court is based on the following facts provided by the officer: On July 10, Chief Deputy Eric Allen reported the following: At 12:02 PM dispatch received a 911 call reporting a two-vehicle accident near 128th and L Road intersection. The reporting party advised there were no injuries.
Upon arrival at the scene, there was a pickup attached to a trailer in the north ditch of 128th Road. The driver of the pickup on the road (a male minor) confirmed he was not hurt. He said his mother, Jennifer Fjell was the driver of the pickup in the ditch. He explained she is a severe alcoholic. This morning, she came home very intoxicated. She wanted to leave, and they argued with her to stay and took the keys to her car. The son and father were in the house, and they looked out the window and saw one of their work pickups that was attached to a trailer traveling westbound from their house. The son went after the pickup and saw his mother driving it. After they crossed 128th and L Road, he pulled up next to her. He thought they were only going 25-30 mph. Jennifer looked over at him and he motioned for her to stop. At that time, she swerved into his pickup causing significant damage to the passenger side, then deflected into the ditch. The son didn’t think she did it on purpose but because she was so drunk. He got out and told her to get in with him and go home. She refused and he told her if she didn’t, he was going to call the police. She didn’t believe him. Once she knew he called 911, she ran into a cornfield north of the accident scene and out of sight.
A search of the area was conducted. The cornfield where she went was over 6 feet tall. The officer advised neighbors in the area to keep a look out for Jennifer and to remove the keys from their vehicles. The search continued for several hours. A drone was used to look over the fields with no success. The temperature was over 90 degrees and inside the cornfield even hotter.
At 2:01 p.m. a motorist reported a female walking on Highway 92 between J and K, which is 2 miles north and a mile west of the accident location. The officer located Jennifer near Highway 92 and K Road. She said she was fine and just out for a walk. Due to her exposure in the heat and how far she walked in cornfields, EMS checked her out. She was then transported to Annie Jeffrey Hospital. After which she was transported to Platte County Detention Center in Columbus and booked into jail for the above listed offenses.
It should be noted that Jennifer was convicted of DUI first in Polk County on August 28, 2014.
