Police: Marion man’s car struck two cars, house before short chase

MARION — A Marion man is in custody after police say he drove a car that struck two cars and a house before leading officers on a short chase Saturday.

According to a news release, Marion police received several 911 calls around 6:13 p.m. Saturday regarding a car that had struck two occupied cars and an unoccupied house at the intersection of Eighth Avenue and 25th Street in Marion. The car left the scene, according to Marion police. Before the police call was dispatched, a patrolling officer in the area saw the fleeing vehicle and initiated a pursuit, which continued for about six blocks before the car stopped and the driver surrendered to police.

The driver, Larry Sharp Jr., 42, of Marion, was arrested and faces charges of operating while intoxicated, eluding, striking fixtures on a roadway, leaving the scene of an accident, failure to obey a stop sign and failure to maintain control.

The occupants of the vehicles reportedly struck by Sharp's car were examined at the scene, but declined medical services.

Sharp was not injured and was taken to the Linn County Jail.