Four police chases leave damage, but no serious injuries

CEDAR RAPIDS - Four men were jailed after four separate police chases in Cedar Rapids during the holiday weekend.

No serious injuries were reported following the incidents, although two of the drivers who tried to flee were taken to hospitals for minor abrasions. Speeds exceeded the limit by more than 30 mph, and in two of the cases, police said the drivers were drunk.

It all started around 9:30 p.m. Friday when officers noticed a speeding car going around 45 mph through downtown. The driver ignored police lights and continued east down First Avenue before turning the wrong way on 12th Street NE, a one-way street.

Police said the car went the wrong way for about six blocks before turning onto G Avenue NE. After running two stop signs, the driver sped up to 60 mph in the 25 mph residential area. The car ran another stop sign at C Avenue and 20th Street NE, and crashed into the playground area of Franklin Middle School, police said.

Lloyd E. Palar, Jr., 53, of Cedar Rapids, got out and started walking, but was quickly taken into custody. Police said he smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech and watery eyes. Officers found an open can of Miller High Life in his vehicle.

Palar was arrested on suspicion of operating while intoxicated, attempting to elude, open container, driving with a suspended license and several other traffic offenses.

A few hours later, around 2:15 a.m. Saturday, police were in the 4000 block of J Street SW when they saw another speeding vehicle. Clocked at 71 mph in the 35 mph zone, this driver also refused to pull over.

With officers trailing, the driver turned west onto Hawkeye Downs Road SW. Police trailed the driver for several blocks, and he eventually took 12th Street SW north to the area of 16th Avenue SW. The vehicle stopped on its own in the 800 block of 19th Avenue SW.

Police said Gabriel R. Robinson, 35, of Cedar Rapids, struggled with officers and would not follow directions. He was treated at Mercy Medical Center for an abrasion to his forehead before being taken to jail. His offenses included attempting to elude, reckless driving and interference with official acts.

About 80 minutes before the New Year, police noticed another vehicle going the wrong way across the Cedar River on the Third Avenue bridge. Police said the driver did not pull over, and when he got to the west side, turned back east on Second Avenue and continued the wrong way across the river again.

After a couple more turns, the driver turned west and crossed the river a third time on the First Avenue bridge, and went 50 mph in the 25 mph zone, police said. Officers said the driver tried to turn right at Third Street NW to take the Interstate 380 ramp, but lost control and hit a metal pole on median.

The driver stopped and surrendered soon thereafter. Spencer L. Olson, 23, of Cedar Rapids, was taken into custody on suspicion of several charges, including operating while intoxicated, attempting to elude and going the wrong way on one-way streets.

The first police chase of the New Year came around 1:15 a.m. Monday after officers saw a sport-utility vehicle run a red light at Second Avenue and Sixth Street SW. The driver zig-zagged across Fifth Avenue SW, and went south on Eighth Street SW.

As the driver approached a dead-end, police said he slowed down and attempted to turn onto 10th Avenue SW, but lost control. The SUV snapped off the wooden pole and came to rest on top of it, officers said.

The driver ran from officers, crossing railroad tracks and a drainage ditch. A K-9 unit dog was released, and took him to the ground, police said.

The driver, identified as Randy M. Thompson, 27, of Cedar Rapids, continued to struggle with officers on the ground, according to a police report. One officer injured his back while trying to handcuff him, and another officer cut his hand. Neither injury was serious.

Police said Thompson smelled of alcohol, had slurred speech and red, bloodshot eyes. They also found a baggie of marijuana in his pocket, according to the police report.

Thompson was treated at St. Luke's Hospital for injuries from the airbag deployment during the crash. He was then taken to the Linn County Jail on suspicion of operating while intoxicated, attempting to elude, possession of marijuana, interference with official acts with injury, along with several other offenses.