HIAWATHA, Iowa (KCRG) – A Cedar Falls carjacking suspect is in custody and hospitalized with critical injuries after exchanging gunfire with law enforcement Wednesday morning following a high-speed chase on I-380. At approximately 8:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to a robbery in progress at the Marine Recruitment Office on Brandilynn Boulevard in Cedar Falls, where they learned a vehicle was stolen. A Linn County Deputy located the suspect’s vehicle at 9:30 a.m. southbound on I-380 near Center Point. The adult male driver took off southbound at high speed and officers chased the suspect on I-380. The driver exited onto County Home Road and lost control, hitting a road sign. The suspect opened fire at officers out the driver’s side window. The chase continued southbound on I-380 until the vehicle came to a stop in the median ditch in Hiawatha near the Tower Terrace exit. Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner told TV9 the suspect fired several rounds at officers. As officers returned fire, the suspect was shot by an officer and was taken into custody. The suspect was taken to a local hospital where he was later transferred to University of Iowa Health Care for critical injuries. The sheriff explained the suspect used a rifle to shoot at officers and may have had more guns. No officers were reported injured and the officers directly involved have been placed on critical incident leave, which Sheriff Gardner told TV9 is a customary move for this type of incident. The suspect’s identity has not been released and there is no risk to the public.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – An Iowa judge says a decision may come soon in a lawsuit challenging an election redistricting map. Currently, county supervisors run at-large, meaning they can live anywhere in the county and represent the whole county. A new district map would put an end to that system. Senate File 75 would force the three counties with Board of Regents universities to create districts, where one supervisor would be elected in each district. Voters from the affected Black Hawk, Johnson and Story counties sued to block the law. They met in court Tuesday afternoon. The state has moved to dismiss the case, saying similar systems have gone into place around the nation. The judge says the decision could be made some time next week.
OELWEIN, Iowa (KCRG) – The Oelwein Police Department says four people have been charged following execution of a search warrant Tuesday night. Police say they found methamphetamines and marijuana, as well as stolen property, during the search on the 300 block of 7th Ave SW. A 17-year-old boy and girl and a 14-year-old boy were referred to juvenile court. The 17-year-olds face multiple misdemeanor drug, theft, and child endangerment charges. The 14-year-old faces a felony burglary charge, as well as misdemeanor theft and drug charges. An Oelwein man, 20-year-old Hayden Harkrader, is facing a felony third-degree burglary charge. He is also facing five counts of vehicle burglary, child endangerment, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, unlawful possession of a prescription drug, theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Police said Harkrader was taken to the Fayette County Jail pending his initial court appearance, with additional charges pending. Police said the case is still under investigation.
TAMA COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – The Tama County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help finding a 22-year-old man who has been missing for more than a week. Nicholas Collins was last seen leaving his residence in Garwin on December 19. Officials say he was last tracked through a license plate reader in southern Missouri driving a white Mini Cooper. Latest details from the Sheriff’s Office lead them to believe he may have recently been in the Ozarks or Table Rock region. “After Christmas passed with no communication, his family became very concerned,” Sheriff Casey Schmidt said in a statement. “The longer there is no contact with Nicholas, the more concerned his family and law enforcement become.” Anyone with information is asked to call the Tama County Sheriff’s Office at 641-484-3760.
