Preliminary hearing rescheduled on Meerwald DWI charge

The preliminary hearing for the felony driving while intoxicated charge against Edward Meerwald, 63, Noel, originally scheduled for today has been rescheduled to 9 a.m. January 7 in McDonald County Circuit Court.

Meerwald was charged with DWI after being pulled over by a Highway Patrol trooper June 17.

Meerwald served prison time after pleading guilty to two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the July 30, 2004 drunk driving deaths of Jessica Mann, 7, Joplin, and her grandfather, Jim Dodson, 69, Neosho.


The events that led to Meerwald's arrest were outlined in the probable cause statement. Trooper Derek Carnagey said Meerwald was clocked doing 77 miles per hour in a 60 zone south of Split Log Road on MO 59.

"When I turned around and activated my emergency lights, the vehicle continued southbound at approximately the same speed. Eventually, the driver observed my patrol car and emergency lights behind him."

Meerwald told the trooper he had been to Joplin and was driving to his daughter's home. Carnagey smelled alcohol on his breath and asked if he had been drinking. Meerwald said he had two beers.

"I informed him two beers would definitely not place him anywhere near the legal limit."

According to the statement, Meerwald voluntarily provided a breath sample on the trooper's portable tester. Despite his claim that he had only two beers, Meerwald said he would fail the test. The sample registered .177, more than twice the legal limit.

Because of the test and Meerwald's statements, Carnagey asked him to perform further tests. "Meerwald claimed he had issues with both feet being previously broken, along with cellulitis in his legs causing swelling."

Carnagey placed Meerwald under arrest and took him to the Pineville Police Department for a chemical breath test.

The second test registered .121.