Illinois man arrested after high-speed chase on I-380 in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS — A 25-year-old Illinois man was arrested after a high-speed chase on Interstate 380, police said.

Court documents show Cori Lajuan Ashford faces charges of attempt to elude, possession of a controlled substance and drug tax stamp violation.

Officers attempted a traffic stop just before midnight Thursday near I Avenue and Center Point Road NE, according to the Cedar Rapids Police Department. Police said the vehicle had no license plate on display.

Instead of stopping, the vehicle kept driving and got onto I-380 South, where it reached speeds of 93 mph.

Stop sticks were deployed near Wilson Avenue SW, causing the tires on the on the vehicle’s driver side to deflate.

The vehicle exited at 33rd Avenue SW before doubling back and getting onto I-380 North, where it reached speeds of 100 mph before the deflated tires caused the vehicle to slow. The vehicle exited at First Street West and continued for several blocks, ignoring traffic control devices.

The vehicle came to a stop at E Avenue NW near Fourth Avenue NW, where the driver jumped out and fled.

Police said Ashford was taken into custody, with the assistance of a K-9, after a short chase.

Ashford was found to be in possession of Oxycodone, police said.

He was taken to UnityPoint Health-St. Luke’s Hospital for medical evaluation and transported to the Linn County Correctional Center.

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