Iowa City man accused of running deputy off road during chase

RIVERSIDE - An Iowa City man is accused of forcing a Washington County sheriff's deputy into the ditch while trying to evade arrest.

According to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, around 6:37 p.m. Monday, a deputy tried to pull over 43-year-old Charles E. Horn, Jr. on Vine Avenue in Riverside. Authorities said Horn was known to be a barred driver and a check of his license confirmed it was revoked.

Rather than stop for the deputy - who had activated his lights and sirens, police said Horn attempted to flee. Police said at one point during the pursuit, Horn drove into an oncoming lane of traffic at a high rate of speed. Horn drove directly at a fully marked Washington County deputy's patrol car, forcing the deputy to swerve into the ditch and avoid a head-on collision.

After Horn was stopped, police said he submitted to a preliminary breath test which showed his blood alcohol content to be .00 percent. However, authorities said he performed poorly on standard field sobriety tests, indicating he might have been under the influence of an another substance.

When Horn was booked at the Johnson County Jail, a plastic bag containing a white, powdery, crystallized substance was found in his sock. That substance was sent to the Division of Criminal Investigation's laboratory for further testing.

According to Johnson County Jail records, Horn has been booked on charges of driving while barred - habitual offender, third-degree burglary, eluding, driving while revoked, operating under the influence, possession of contraband in a correctional facility, assault with a weapon on peace officers and interference with official acts.