Linn County deputy involved in hit-and-run resigns

A veteran Linn County sheriff's deputy who pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident while off-duty has resigned.

James Crawford, 50, of Anamosa, resigned Thursday in the midst of an internal investigation about the incident, Sheriff Brian Gardner said Monday. Crawford had been a deputy in Linn County for 27 years.

Marion police said Crawford was southbound on 10th Street in Marion around 6:45 p.m. on May 9 when he rear-ended a motorcycle driven by Timothy McLaud, 56, of Vinton, at the corner of Indian Creek Road. No one was injured in the accident, but Crawford left the scene before officers arrived.

Multiple witnesses to the crash got the vehicle description and license plate, and Marion police were able to make contact with Crawford by phone. He arrived at the police station for questioning "at least a couple hours" later, Lt. Scott Elam said.

Crawford was ticketed for leaving the scene of a property damage accident and for failure to stop in assured clear distance. He pleaded guilty to the charges on May 26, and had been on paid administrative leave since the incident.

Police said Crawford never gave a reason for leaving the scene of the accident, and Elam said it did not say in the report whether he was directly asked. The report also makes no mention of any breath or blood test administered to Crawford, Elam said.