Police find man with warrant hiding in Cedar Rapids bar bathroom

Police arrested a man with a federal warrant when they found him hiding in the bathroom of a Cedar Rapids bar.

Michael Mease, 30, no known address, who was wanted as a felon in possession of a firearm, was first spotted in a vehicle in the 2000 block of Johnson Avenue NW at 2:39 p.m. Friday. An officer in an unmarked car followed the vehicle to a Taco John's restaurant a few blocks away, according to a news release issued today by police.

The plain-clothed officer pulled up to the vehicle in the parking lot and ordered the driver, later identified as Patrice Brisbin, 22, to stop. Brisbin then put the vehicle in reverse and struck an unmarked police car that was behind her, according to the police report.

Mease opened the passenger door and went running eastbound through the parking lot across Johnson Avenue and Edgewood Road NW behind the Flowerama, 3326 Johnson Ave. NW. Sgt. Cristy Hamblin said the officer lost sight of Mease, but another officer was stationed at the flower shop, so they were certain he went inside the Westside Lounge nearby.

“It was a small bar, and of course all the locals were in there,” Hamblin said.

Officers did not see Mease in the main area of the bar, but found him hiding in a bathroom stall. Hamblin said they ordered him to get on the ground and to put his hands behind his back, but he initially refused.

Mease was eventually secured and taken to the Linn County Jail, police said. He had other arrest warrants for failing to appear in court for possession of precursors and driving while barred, police said.

Brisbin, the woman who was driving Meade, also was taken to jail for driving with a suspended license, reckless driving and no insurance.

Mease remained in jail Thursday on a hold by the U.S. Marshals Service.