A Greene County District Court Judge recently granted the former Grand Junction fire chief’s request for a suppression hearing.

According to court documents, the defense attorney for 39-year-old Thomas Launderville requested evidence to be suppressed following Launderville’s arrest on November 9th for driving an ambulance drunk. The defense claims that Launderville was not given a reasonable amount of time to exercise his rights under Iowa Code 804.20. According to the defendant, after Launderville was arrested and taken to the law enforcement center, he was given 24 minutes to exercise his rights and was denied being able to see his fiance. 

A Jefferson Police Officer arrested Launderville on November 9th at the Greene County Medical Center, after noticing signs of possible intoxication during the radio transmission between Launderville and dispatch. The suspect drove an ambulance after responding to a medical call in Grand Junction. He refused to take a field sobriety test, so the officer arrested him. After being transported to the law enforcement center, Launderville consented to a breath test, which resulted in a .21% blood alcohol level. Launderville was then charged with an aggravated misdemeanor for his second OWI. 

Launderville has since been removed as fire chief and his membership to the department has been revoked. The defendant is asking to have the failed breath test, implied consent proceedings and any incriminating statements suppressed. The suppression request was granted by District Court Judge Joseph McCarville, and is scheduled for later this month. Raccoon Valley Radio will bring you more information as it becomes official.