Cedar Rapids police: Chadwick had stolen property in truck at time of crash

CEDAR RAPIDS - Stolen computer equipment, tools and other items were found in the truck driven by a Cedar Rapids man who fled from Cedar Rapids police and was involved in a fatal crash with a city worker.

According to a Linn County Attorney's Office criminal complaint, property stolen from Acro Manufacturing was found in Lawson Chadwick's truck after he crashed into a city van driven by Water Division employee Stephen J. Cook, 35, of Palo at around 8:39 a.m. April 17. The stolen property was valued at more than $10,000, earning Chadwick, 47, a new charge of first-degree theft. The additional offense was filed Wednesday.

The presence of the stolen property offers a possible explanation for why Chadwick fled from police when they attempted to stop him for a registration violation. Court documents have also suggested Chadwick might have been under the influence of drugs.

Chadwick led police on a minute-long high-speed chase that started near 10th Street and Eighth Avenue SW and ended when he crashed into Cook at the intersection of 16th Avenue and Ninth Street SW after Chadwick ran a stop sign. Cook was thrown from the vehicle and died the following day at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

According to a search warrant application filed last week, Chadwick had 'red, bloodshot, watery eyes,” while in the hospital being treated for injuries suffered in the crash. He was also agitated, unable to sit still and was overheard telling an emergency room nurse that he had used heroin the night before.

On April 19, Chadwick was charged with vehicular homicide while attempting to elude as a habitual offender and vehicular homicide by reckless driving as a habitual offender.

Chadwick has two previous felony convictions of second-degree theft in Black Hawk County and possession of controlled substances precursors in Linn County.

Chadwick also was arrested April 13, on a warrant for second-degree theft, police said.

First-degree theft is a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.