Linn County Sheriff’s Office releases details of November pedestrian fatality on Interstate 380

LINN COUNTY - The Linn County Sheriff's Office said the Hiawatha Police officer who spoke with a Cedar Rapids man just before he was hit by a car and killed was not at fault in the man's death.

'I don't believe the police officer did anything wrong,” Sheriff Brian Gardner said Friday.

Jesse P. Eaton, 34, was killed Nov. 13 on the off-ramp onto County Home Road from Interstate 380 when he was hit by a car exiting the interstate. Minutes before his death, Eaton had contact with Hiawatha police officer Chad Breidinger, Gardner said in November.

On Friday, Gardner said his office's investigation into Eaton's death was complete and shared the details of that investigation.

According to the sheriff's office, around 9:20 p.m. Nov. 13, calls came into dispatch regarding a pedestrian - originally believed to be a woman - walking northbound on Interstate 380. Gardner said Breidinger was closest to the call and encountered Eaton just south of the County Home Road off-ramp.

Gardner said Breidinger spoke with Eaton, who reported that he was walking to New York. He was checked for any outstanding warrants and also checked for weapons or contraband, Gardner said. When the officer found no reason to detain Eaton, he let the man go, Gardner said.

Gardner said Breidinger did offer Eaton a ride, but Eaton declined.

Walking along the interstate in any direction is illegal, Gardner said.

Gardner said after Eaton began walking up the off-ramp, he crossed from the right side of the road to the left and in front of an oncoming vehicle. The vehicle hit Eaton. Gardner said Eaton suffered blunt trauma to his head and body and was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy showed that Eaton had both cannabinoids and opiates in his system at the time of his death, Gardner said. However, Gardner said that doesn't mean it was immediately apparent to the officer that Eaton was under the influence of any drugs during their interaction.

Gardner also said that the driver who struck Eaton was not at fault in any way.