Traffic stop escalated in Columbus Junction

COLUMBUS JUNCTION — Thursday, Oct. 3 at approximately 3:06 p.m. an attempted traffic stop by the Columbus Junction Police Department ended in collisions with vehicles, vehicle rollover, K-9 and drone search, an injury to a deputy sheriff and finally an arrest.

The Columbus Junction Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle for multiple violations, the driver would stop, exited his vehicle then went back into the vehicle. The driver of the 2008 Nissan Maxima then fled westbound from downtown Columbus Junction nearly colliding with multiple vehicles at a high rate of speed.

The driver continued on Highway 92 where they crashed at a road construction barrier near County Road X17, then rolled the vehicle several times. The driver ran from the crash into a timber to the south.

CJPD Officers and Louisa County Deputies set up a perimeter, then later located the subject with the assistance of K-9 Officer Drake and a drone. A deputy sheriff was injured in the attempt to capture the subject in the timber and sustained minor injuries.

The suspect was later identified as Francisco Nunez, age 46, of Muscatine. Nunez complained of injuries but was cleared later at a local hospital. Nunez remains at the Louisa County Jail on a $7,500.00 cash only bond.

As a result of this incident Nunez is charged with the following offenses by the Columbus Junction Police Department:

Felony Eluding-C Felony

Driving while revoked-OWI-related Serious Misdemeanor

Interference with official acts- Simple Misdemeanor

Driving while suspended- Simple Misdemeanor

Reckless Driving-Simple Misdemeanor

Multiple traffic citations

Further charges are pending by Louisa County Sheriff's Office.

Multiple agencies assisted the Columbus Junction Police Department to include the Louisa County Ambulance, Mincers Towing, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DOT and the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office.

*A criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law*