Cedar Rapids man arrested after 110-mph chase

WASHINGTON — A Cedar Rapids man remained in custody Tuesday, Jan. 7 at the Washington County Jail after authorities accused him of leading deputies on a high-speed chase exceeding 110 mph, crashing a stolen car and possessing a controlled substance.

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Victor Hughes, 29, faces multiple charges, including eluding at speeds more than 25 mph over the limit, a Class D felony, and serious misdemeanor counts of first-offense possession of a controlled substance and operating while under the influence. Prosecutors also charged Hughes with reckless driving, driving while his license was suspended, falsely claiming an emergency, failure to maintain control, speeding 21 mph or more over the limit in a 55-mph-or-under zone, and failure to obey a traffic control device.

Around 1 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 4, Washington County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a pursuit of a silver Chevy Impala with no plates exceeding 110 mph on Highway 218.

Deputy Ethan Hansen of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said in a criminal complaint that he encountered Hughes driving the Impala that deputies later determined was stolen. Hansen wrote that Hughes attempted to sell stolen goods from inside the vehicle and did not display current registration.

Hansen said Hughes fled the marked patrol car’s lights and sirens, driving “in speeds excess of 110 mph in posted 55 and 65 mph zones,” weaving into oncoming traffic and running stop signs. The chase ended when Hughes lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch where it caught fire in Louisa County.

After the crash, deputies observed signs of impairment, including “mumbled speech,” “erratic behavior” and “unsteady balance,” Hansen wrote.

According to the criminal complaint, Hughes admitted using narcotics or believed he had been given “bad drugs.” He refused standardized field sobriety tests. Deputies also found a bottle of unlabeled prescription pills that tested as a controlled substance. Hansen wrote that Hughes admitted driving “in speeds excess of 112 mph.”

After his arrest, Hughes repeatedly called “911” from the jail, even after staff instructed him not to, the complaint said.

The court ordered Hughes held on $7,000 cash-only bail, according to Iowa Courts records. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Jan. 15 at the Washington County Courthouse.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com