Authorities arrest Ottumwa man after pursuit on 218

MT. PLEASANT — Wednesday, June 28 Henry County Sheriff’s and Mt. Pleasant Police departments worked together to detain an individual that fled a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 218.

According to court documents, Officer Carlos Lopez attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Jemere Jackson, 20 of Ottumwa, for driving 20 miles per hour over the posted speed limit.

“I exited my patrol vehicle and proceeded to the driver's side of the vehicle,” Lopez wrote in the criminal complaint document. “While walking to the vehicle the defendant took off from the traffic stop northbound on U.S. Highway 218.”

Lopez stated that he turned on his lights and sirens as Jackson, “proceeded to operate the vehicle recklessly driving back and forth lane to lane.”

According to a news release from the sheriff’s department, “The subject crossed the highway, continuing at a high rate of speed, northbound in the southbound lanes of travel.”

“While the defendant was operating the vehicle against traffic several accidents almost occurred causing vehicles to leave the roadway to avoid being struck,” Lopez stated. “This continued till the vehicle took exit 40 on the off ramp.”

According to court documents, Jackson then continued eastbound on 255th Street before returning to U.S. Highway 218 and continuing to elude authorities until he left U.S. Highway 218 again at exit proceeding westbound on Washington Street in Mt. Pleasant.

“At this time multiple law enforcement vehicles were attempting to stop the vehicle with audible and visual signal,” Lopez stated. “The vehicle proceeded to cut across the Casey's parking lot where the vehicle turned around and proceeded eastbound on Washington Street. The vehicle then proceeded to travel on U.S. Highway 218 41 off ramp against traffic.”

According to the criminal complaint, Jackson finally came to a stop on this off-ramp when law enforcement officers boxed him in.

Once in custody, Lopez stated that he “observed watery bloodshot eyes and slowed movements,” from Jackson.

Lopez stated that after reading Jackson his Miranda Rights, the defendant admitted to using marijuana thirty minutes prior to the beginning of the traffic stop.

“The defendant showed impairment clues during Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus and Walk and Turn testing,” Lopez wrote. “The defendant submitted to a blood withdrawal after being unable to provide a urine sample and test results are pending.”

The Henry County Sheriff’s Department charged Jackson with Eluding, Reckless Driving, OWI-Drugs, Speeding, Driving on Wrong Side of Highway, and Driving Under Suspension.

Jackson’s bail was set as a cash or surety bond in the amount of $2500 and his preliminary trial is set for July 7 at 9 a.m.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com