Death of Iowa City cabdriver being treated as suspicious

By Lee Hermiston, The Gazette

IOWA CITY ? The death of a cabdriver found dead in their vehicle early Wednesday morning is being treated as suspicious.

Iowa City police officers were called to 1165 South Riverside Drive around 3:42 a.m. Tuesday for a report of a driver slumped over inside a Yellow Cab taxi. Responding officers found the deceased subject in the car. A fellow Yellow Cab driver told police he drove to the area to check on the welfare of the driver and found the driver in that position.

Police are not identifying the deceased until an official identification is made by the Johnson County Medical Examiner?s Office and family members have been notified. Police are treating the death as suspicious at this time.

Iowa City Police Sgt. Scott Gaarde said he could not confirm the gender of the driver nor say what makes this incident suspicious. Police have not said whether the deceased had any obvious injuries or whether there was any damage to the cab.

Anyone with information on the suspicious death or who believe they might have been a witness is asked to call the police department at 356-6800.

Police have not determined the death was a criminal act, but have said if they do, an Iowa City Area CrimeStoppers reward of up to $1,000 will be offered for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 358-TIPS.