Cedar Rapids man arrested after high-speed chase with police

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Cedar Rapids man is accused of leading police on a chase in a stolen truck before crashing it.

According to Cedar Rapids public safety spokesman Greg Buelow and the Linn County Attorney's Office, police attempted to pull over a Ford F-350 pulling a trailer near 33rd Avenue and 12th Street SW at 11:01 p.m. Thursday when they noticed neither the truck nor trailer had license plates. Authorities said the truck paused long enough to let out three passengers in the 1000 block of 33rd Avenue SW. One of the passengers was identified as Tanor D. Jimmison, 25, of Clarinda, who was arrested for revocation of probation. Buelow said two female passengers were identified, but not arrested.

Buelow said the driver of the truck, later identified as Clinton E. Meader, 40, fled south on Sixth Street SW, reaching speeds of 75 mph in a 35 mph zone. Meader then went west on Highway 30 and south on Edgewood Road. Buelow said Meader was going 90 mph in a 65 mph zone on Highway 30 and ran a red light at Edgewood Road.

Authorities said Meader continued south on Edgewood Road and west on Beverly Road SW before taking to gravel roads. Buelow said the Linn County and Johnson County sheriff's offices and Iowa State Patrol also joined the chase.

'The suspect vehicle then attempted to elude officers on gravel roads throughout both Linn and Johnson counties,” Buelow said.

Meader went through Shueyville and south on Curtis Bridge Road before driving through a road closed sign and crashing into a cement barrier. Meader and a female passenger were taken into custody at 11:53 p.m., Buelow said.

Authorities said they determined the truck and trailer were stolen and had been spray-painted black. Meader was arrested and faces charges of first-degree theft, eluding and driving while barred. The female passenger was not charged, Buelow said.

l Comments: (319) 398-8238; lee.hermiston@thegazette.com