Muscatine man caught in Iowa City with stolen car, meth

IOWA CITY - A Muscatine man was arrested Thursday after being found in Iowa City with a stolen car and meth.

According to Iowa City police criminal complaints, officers were notified around 1:52 p.m. Thursday that a stolen vehicle was spotted on Highway 6 East and then going westbound on Hollywood Boulevard. An officer located the vehicle and when the driver - later identified as 42-year-old Jason P. Garrett - spotted the officer, his driving became evasive, police said.

Police said Garrett eventually stopped in the Burger King parking lot at the corner of Highway 6 and Boyrum Street. Garrett was taken into custody, police said.

An examination of the vehicle determined the license plates did not belong on the vehicle and the VIN came as being stolen out of Cedar County, police said.

Authorities said Garrett admitted to having a 'suspicion” the vehicle was stolen when he paid $200 for it.

In addition to driving a stolen vehicle, police said Garrett's license is barred and a baggie of meth was found in the vehicle.

Garrett was arrested and faces charges of second-degree theft, a Class D felony; possession of a controlled substance - third or subsequent offense, a Class D felony; and driving while barred as a habitual offender, an aggravated misdemeanor. He remains in custody on a $6,000 cash or surety bond and the Washington County Sheriff's Office has placed a detainer on him, according to jail records.

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