Cedar Rapids man faces OWI, eluding charges after fleeing and crashing into light pole

IOWA CITY- A Cedar Rapids man faces charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and eluding an officer after driving a vehicle on the wrong side of the road and attempting to flee shortly after midnight Monday.

According to a criminal complaint, an Iowa City Police officer saw Kenneth James, 37, driving on the wrong side of road on Oak Crest Hill Road SE between Hills and Iowa City at about 12:45 a.m. Monday. When the officer indicated the driver should pull over, James stopped the vehicle in the middle of the road.

As the officer approached the car, the driver sped off. The officer pursued in his vehicle, but the other car struck a telephone pole. James then fled on foot through a field and through timber, according to the complaint.

He was later located and had bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and poor balance, though he refused a field sobriety tests, according to the complaint.

James was arrested and faces charges of eluding police, operating while under the influence - third offense and driving while barred.

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