Officer says reckless driver came at him head-on during pursuit

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Cedar Rapids police officer testified Wednesday that Brandon Lee Nelson had multiple opportunities to pull over July 30, 2022, but continued to drive recklessly at high speeds as the officer pursued his vehicle up and down Edgewood Road.

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Alexander Rink, a K-9 police officer, said he initially saw Nelson, 24, of Cedar Rapids, driving a Chrysler Sebring, and going 93 mph in the 35 mph zone in the 2700 block of Edgewood Road SW.

Nelson was headed north, and Rink, going south, activated his lights and sirens and turned around to pursue him. Nelson was going so fast that Rink could only see his taillights and then lost sight of him as he passed Williams Boulevard and went down a hill.

Rink turned off his lights and sirens and stopped the pursuit at that point. He continued on Edgewood north and another officer, back at the department checking traffic cameras, located Nelson’s vehicle going south at about 90 mph.

Nelson didn’t slow down and Rink said he couldn’t catch up. When he saw him again, Nelson’s headlights were coming right at his police cruiser when Rink was near 12th Avene SW on Edgewood. Rink said Nelson crossed the centerline and came at him head-on, forcing Rink into the outside lane to avoid being struck.

Rink said if he hadn’t moved, “I wouldn’t be here today.”

Rink was told by his supervisor to terminate the chase because it was too dangerous to continue. A short time later, Rink heard radio traffic that two other officers, Blair Klostermann and Matt Jenatscheck, had permission to pick up the chase and then shots were fired.

Shots fired

Nelson is on trial this week in Linn County District Court for attempting to kill Jenatscheck and on 12 other charges: two counts of intimidation with a dangerous weapon; three counts of assault on a peace officer with a dangerous weapon; two counts of interference with official acts while armed with a firearm; and one count each of going armed with intent, persons ineligible to carry dangerous weapons, eluding, reckless driving and driving while barred.

According to a criminal complaint, Nelson continued to drive recklessly and finally stopped on Glass Road NE around 4 a.m. with Klostermann and Jenatscheck following behind him. When Nelson suddenly stopped, he got out the car with a shotgun and racked and pulled it up to his chest two times, pointing it in the direction of Klostermann’s squad car, which was directly behind his.

Jenatscheck’s vehicle was stopped in the westbound lane, next to Klostermann’s, the complaint stated. Both officers ordered Nelson to drop the weapon, but he brought the shotgun up to his shoulder and aimed it at Jenatscheck. That’s when both officers fired at Nelson numerous times and Nelson also fired his shotgun once.

Nelson had three gunshot injuries. The officers weren’t injured.

Last August, Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks found both officers were justified in their actions. He found Nelson had intent to shoot Jenatscheck, setting in motion a chain of events that would cause or result in the death of the officer.

Jenatscheck and Klostermann will testify this week during the trial. The trial is expected to wrap up next Wednesday.

Suicide attempt?

Defense lawyer Cory Goldensoph, in his opening statement, said Nelson suffered from depression, which he tried to hide, except when he was drinking, which he had been on July 30, 2022. In the past, he said, Nelson had tried to kill himself but “fortunately hadn’t been successful.”

Goldensoph said that night Nelson decided to kill himself but decided he couldn’t and instead wanted police to do it. Nelson didn’t want to hurt officers, only himself, his lawyer said.

On cross-examination, Rink said he had the impression that Nelson was trying to “bait him” — attempt to get an officer to stop him. Nelson didn’t leave the Edgewood Road area and continued to come back toward Rink when the officer fell behind.

Driving around

Keegan Gordon, 19, a diesel technician and friend and former co-worker of Nelson’s, testified that the Sebring was his vehicle and he let Nelson drive after the two of them were out drinking July 30.

They went to three bars for some beers and food before deciding to drive around on “gravel” roads, and they got a bottle of bourbon for the cruising. Gordon said he let Nelson drive because he (Gordon) was “extremely” intoxicated.

Gordon said he didn’t recall much from that night. Nelson was also intoxicated but he handled his alcohol better and could drive.

Nelson took Gordon home but kept his car. Nelson appeared to be in a “happy mood” that night. Nelson knew Gordon kept a shotgun in the trunk but never mentioned planning to use the weapon that night.

Maybanks displayed a photo for the jury of the 12-gauge shotgun, which had a pistol grip, allowing a shooter to hold the gun with one hand, along with a regular stock that’s typically held against a shoulder to shoot.

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The gun was kept in Gordon’s trunk and was always unloaded but there was ammunition in the trunk, Gordon said.

Cody Gibbons, 20, a friend and former co-worker of Nelson’s, also testified about being with Nelson and Gordon for a short time that night.

Gibbons said Nelson seemed to be his “happy-go-lucky” self that night.

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