Hunter
07/03/20
An Illinois man was taken into custody on outstanding warrants stemming from eluding police on June 9th was picked up on June 27th for the same offense.
The incident began at the Eden Apartments on Muscatine Avenue just after 9:15pm when police received multiple reports of gunshots in the area. Two witnesses said that 35-year-old James Joy had weapons in his vehicle. Upon arrival, as officers were speaking to Joy, he allegedly drove away, ignoring commands from police to stop.
Joy reportedly reached speeds of 55 miles an hour in a 25 mile per hour zone, running red lights and stop signs. Police lost track of Joy, but a Muscatine County deputy spotted him later. That started another chase, with Joy allegedly reaching speeds of 80 miles an hour as he headed back to Iowa City.
Joy then left his vehicle and fled on foot, hiding in a bean field until he was discovered by officers. He allegedly smelled of ingested alcohol and admitted to drinking and smoking marijuana. A search of his vehicle on probable cause found a small amount of both intoxicants. He also had a one-hitter with burnt marijuana in a pants pocket.
Police say Joy first identified himself as Michael Bacon and an incorrect birthdate. He reportedly told officers he ran from them because he knew he was wanted and had been drinking.
On June 9th, he crashed a Dodge Caravan into the rear of another vehicle and knocked over a traffic light after driving away to avoid police contact at a high rate of speed in the pouring rain. He ran from the scene and didn’t return. He faces Eluding, Interference With Official Acts, failure to provide financial responsibility, reckless driving, driving while suspended, failure to stop at a safe distance, and leaving the scene of an accident.
The incident on June 27th brought charges of Eluding, Interference with Official Acts, False ID Information, Possession of a Controlled Substance second offense, OWI, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Both incidents come with a prison sentence of over seven years if convicted on all charges.
Joy, from Rock Island Illinois, was wanted on drug charges there, and will be extradited to face those counts.
