Iowa City man arrested after throwing bags of drugs out van window

A 43-year-old Iowa City man was arrested for a controlled substance violation, prevention of apprehension and driving while barred after police say he failed to pull over for a traffic violation March 28 and later began throwing bags of drugs out his van window.

According to police reports, Ricky V. Mallard, of 1240 Dolen Place, was being pulled over by an officer for a brake light violation. Mallard failed to yield and continued to drive for several minutes before he began breaking open bags of a powdered white substance and throwing them out the window of his van.

Three bags of the white substance were thrown out at the intersection of Highway 6 and Gilbert Street. The substance later tested positive as cocaine, police said. One bag contained approximately two grams of cocaine and the other two bags had powdered cocaine residue, Iowa City police said.

Once Mallard was stopped near Benton Drive and Denbigh Drive, officers found powdered cocaine from the ripped open bags in the front passenger seat area of the van.

Mallard was being held at the Johnson County Jail on a $20,000 cash bond Wednesday morning.

Controlled substance violation is a class C felony punishable by up to ten years in prison and a maximum $50,000 fine. Prevention of apprehension or obstruction of the prosecution and driving while barred are aggravated misdemeanors.