Hunter
08/04/25
An Iowa City man who left his front bumper behind after an alleged hit-and-run accident Friday night was charged with OWI.
Police say the incident occurred at 9:52pm on the 2400 block of Aster Avenue. Upon arrival, a Dodge Ram pickup with severe damaged to the back left of the vehicle was discovered. The victim stated that he saw a vehicle driving southbound at a high rate of speed that hit his truck. A dark blue bumper was left behind.
An officer located a dark blue Toyota with severe damage to the front right side parked in the driveway of a Thistle Court residence. Police knocked on the door and made contact with 33-year-old Jerdell Graf, who reportedly had bloodshot watery eyes and smelled of ingested alcohol. He tried to close the door on the officers, but one was able to grab his arm and entered his residence to place him under arrest.
Graf allegedly brought himself to the ground and refused to stand up so that he could be handcuffed. He reportedly never admitted to driving, but footage from a neighbor’s Ring camera allegedly showed him getting out of the vehicle. Graf refused field sobriety tests, but submitted to a PBT and Datamaster testing, showing a breath-alcohol level of .227 and .228 percent, respectively.
Graf was charged with leaving the scene of an accident, OWI first offense, and Interference with Official Acts. He could be sentenced to up to 13 months in jail if convicted on all charges.