Lang
5/15/22
A local transient has been arrested after allegedly leading a chase that damaged multiple police cars.
Coralville Police say they pulled over a 2008 Range Rover with Illinois plates for speeding 50 miles per hour in a 25 mile per hour zone around 2:30 Saturday morning. The vehicle pulled into the 1st Avenue Kum & Go parking lot, but the officer reports the driver…later identified as 27-year-old Javonte Cunningham…was slow to roll down the window. When he did, he allegedly refused to give his name, rolled it back up, and sped off. The officer later said during the brief interaction Cunningham showed signs of intoxication, and an open container of what appeared to be alcohol was seen inside the car.
A chase ensued, with Johnson County Sheriff’s deputies joining the pursuit. Cunningham reportedly drove over stop sticks and struck two patrol cars before being forced off the roadway and onto the sidewalk on the 300 block of the Coralville Strip. He continued driving down he sidewalk until he was forced to stop by deputies’ vehicles.
Damage to the two police cars is estimated at $3,500. Cunningham is charged with Eluding, Operating While Intoxicated, Assault on Peace Officers Using a Weapon, Interference With Official Acts, Driving While Barred, two counts of 2nd Degree Criminal Mischief and multiple traffic violations. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of over 22 years in prison.
Cunningham, who lists his address as CommUnity Crisis Services on Gilbert Court, was also wanted for failing to appear at an arraignment on a weapons charge after an incident last December where he was found allegedly intoxicated while in possession of a firearm at the Coralville Super 8 motel.
