Car runs into creek at Bever Park during police chase

CEDAR RAPIDS - No one was injured in a police chase overnight in Cedar Rapids that ended when a car got stuck in a creek at Bever Park.

Shortly before 3 a.m. Wednesday, officers tried to pull over a car in the 2100 block of First Avenue East because one of its brake lights was not working. The driver started to pull over on Cottage Grove Avenue SE, but then sped away from the police car.

The car turned south on Forest Drive SE without stopping at the stop sign and the driver accelerated to 50 mph in a 25 mph zone, according to the police report. Officers said the driver ignored another stop sign and jumped the median while turning onto Blake Boulevard SE, and continued eastbound in the westbound lanes.

Police said the driver ran a third stop sign while turning east on Grande Avenue SE and drove into Bever Park. The chase continued through the grass toward Bever Avenue SE, but the car went down an incline into a creek and became stuck, according to the police report.

The female driver ran away from the car, but was caught by police south of the crash site by some park bathrooms. Police identified the driver as Lasha Owens, 23, of 1416 Ninth St. SW.

Owens was arrested on suspicion of several offenses, including attempting to elude, interference with official acts and driving with a suspended license. She was taken to the Linn County Jail.

Police said a female passenger in the car that Owens was driving was not hurt and was released.