Davenport man accused of eluding in stolen truck

IOWA CITY - A Davenport man is accused of eluding arrest in a stolen truck.

According to the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, a deputy attempted to pull over a truck in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 that was speeding, driving erratically and had an equipment violation. Rather than stop, authorities said the driver - later identified as 30-year-old Norman E. Lucas - sped away.

Deputies pursued Lucas, with speeds reaching 100 mph in a 70 mph zone.

Lucas stopped after about six miles and ran from the truck. He was later located with the help of a K-9 officer, police said. Lucas allegedly admitted to not only using heroin, meth and marijuana, but to also stealing the truck from a parking lot in the Davenport area in the last 36 hours. Police said the ignition was punched with a screwdriver.

A drug recognition expert did an evaluation on Lucas and determined he was impaired and incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle. A check with the Department of Transportation also showed Lucas to be barred from driving until June 2021.

Lucas was arrested and faces charges of second-degree theft, a Class D felony; eluding while under the influence of drugs or alcohol or while participating in a felony, a Class D felony; operating under the influence, a serious misdemeanor; and driving while barred, an aggravated misdemeanor. If convicted of all four charges, Lucas could spend up to 13 years in prison.