CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A man suffered serious, but not life-threatening, injuries after police say he crashed a second time after attempting to flee from officers who had responded to his initial crash on I-380 early Wednesday morning. Cedar Rapids police tell TV9 they responded to a motorcycle crash on I-380 near H Avenue at around 1 a.m. A search warrant says officers arrived to find the motorcycle laying in the middle lanes of I-380 and the driver standing over it. But when officers tried to talk to the driver to ask him to move the motorcycle, they said the man drove away at a high rate of speed. Officers pursued the motorcycle until it crashed again a short time later. Police said the motorcycle hit a fence and came to a stop in the 600 block of 5th Avenue Southeast. The man was taken to the hospital for what police called serious, but not life-threatening, injuries. Officers in the ambulance with the man said they could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from him, according to the search warrant. No officers were injured in the pursuit. Possible charges against the man have not been released at this time.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A Cedar Rapids woman pleaded guilty in a case in which police say she gave them a fake name and tried to burn an officer who was arresting her. A criminal complaint says police were called to the Jane Boyd Medical Clinic, at 947 10th Street SE, for a possible overdose. That’s where they found Jessica Craddock, who police say initially gave them a fake name, refusing to confirm her real identity. While she was being taken into custody, police said she resisted arrest and used a lighter to try to burn an officer’s vest. After confirming her real name, police said they verified that she had an outstanding warrant out of Benton County. Craddock pleaded guilty in the case.
JOHNSTON, Iowa (KCCI/KCRG) – A worker at a youth home in central Iowa has died one week after a teen shoved hers. Family members say Kathleen Galloway-Menke, 50, was taken off life support Tuesday. Trever Hook, an attorney for the family, said Menke was rushed to a hospital May 8 after a 15-year-old boy shoved her as he ran away from Ellipsis youth home. Menke hit her head on concrete. Hook said Menke was following protocol and the boy was running away, but then turned around and ran toward them. Her family is now considering legal action. “We do have reasonable concerns that Ellipsis do not take the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of her and other female staff members in particular,” Hook said. In a statement, Ellipsis said it was “profoundly saddened” by Menke’s death. Johnston police say the teenage boy who shoved her is in custody at a juvenile detention facility.
DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) – The segment of Jackson Street near the former Dubuque Brewing and Malting Property is finally reopened after being closed due to falling debris from the building. The city closed nearby streets and sent letters back in August warning residents in the area that they were within the potential “fall zone.” Dubuque Brewing and Malting was partially demolished in April, and now officials say that Jackson Street is safe enough to reopen. City leaders say that the safety concern of using the right-of-way in the area has also been addressed.
