Coralville traffic stop leads to police officer, paramedic needing hospitalization
Lang
6/9/19
A Coralville traffic stop led to a police officer and paramedic each needing hospitalization, as well as one arrest.
The incident happened last month. Arrest records indicate that police were called to Kum & Go on the Coralville Strip for a suspicious person just after 8:15am on May 22nd. An officer ran the plate on the vehicle and noticed the registration had expired in October of last year. A traffic stop was conducted in the Old Chicago parking lot. The driver, later identified as 26-year-old Justin Dennis of the Iowa Lodge, allegedly gave a false name several times. Once his real identity was established, investigators learned he was barred from driving until April of 2021. Dennis also has 12 withdrawals in effect.
Officers located several syringes and a spoon with burnt residue inside the vehicle. The arresting officer was stuck with an uncapped needle and was taken to a local hospital for treatment and testing.
An ambulance was called due to Dennis’s mental status. He allegedly spit in the face of a paramedic, which required her to go to the hospital as well.
Dennis is charged with Assault on Persons in Certain Occupations, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Interference with Official Acts, Driving While Barred, Failure to Maintain Registration and Failure to Maintain Financial Liability Coverage. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of over three years in prison.