Bettendorf driver led pursuit, sheared light pole in half, ISP allege
A 22-year-old Bettendorf man was released on bond after police allege he led Iowa State Patrol on a chase, hit a utility pole and fence, and caused thousands of dollars in damage.
Tyler Braun faces felony charges of criminal mischief and eluding – speed over 25 mph over the speed limit, along with serious misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance – first offense and operating while under the influence – first offense, court records show.
Shortly after 1 a.m. Sunday, an Iowa State Trooper saw a blue Dodge Ram headed east on Locust Street at extremely high speeds, according to arrest affidavits. Near the intersection of Locust Street and Iowa Street – a 25-mph zone – the truck was traveling in excess of 80 mph.
In his fully marked ISP cruiser, the trooper “safely turned around on the truck and illuminated my emergency lights to give chase,” the trooper says in affidavits.
The truck then turned north on Farnam Street and increased its speeds again in excess of 80 mph while in a posted 35 mph residential area, affidavits say, “showing the driver’s reckless and careless nature toward the rest of the motoring public or civilians in their residence.”
Affidavits show the truck continued north until attempting a left turn onto Dover, then struck a light pole “shearing it in half causing in excess of $10,000 dollars of damage to that along with the private fence he struck, causing several more thousands of dollars in damage to the wrought iron fence along with the landscaping.”
After the crash, a passenger jumped out of the truck and began running north. He was apprehended after a Taser deployment. Then Davenport Police took the driver – Braun, the truck’s owner – into custody.
Both Braun and the passenger showed signs of alcohol impairment, including bloodshot, watery eyes, slurred speech, impaired balance and the strong odor of alcohol, police allege in affidavits.
“Braun was only remorseful for himself, not asking if anyone else was injured or if his friend had sustained any injuries from the crash,” the trooper writes in affidavits. “With the speeds the driver was pushing and his intoxication level it was extremely lucky no one was seriously injured or killed.”
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