Hunter
01/07/20
An Iowa city man wanted on a handful of forgery charges and eluded police after being discovered operating a stolen vehicle was arrested early Tuesday morning.
36-year-old Juan Orozco allegedly entered an unlocked truck in the 5100 block of American Legion Road around 9am August 5th 2017,and made off with two checkbooks. The victim informed police that he had been contacted by Hills Bank because Orozco had tried to cash one of the checks made out to him for $950. The victim didn’t know Orozco and the check he was trying to cash was among those stolen.
Orozco then cashed a series of stolen checks at the Acapulco Mexican Bakery on Keokuk Street. The first was for $1350 on the date of the alleged burglary, checks for $1100 and $1400 on the 6th, and $3800 on the 7th. Witnesses at the bakery identified the person cashing the checks as Orozco, and provided a picture of him to police.
A warrant for Orozco’s arrest was issued on September 20th of that year.
Officials did not have contact with Orozco until last month. He was stopped near South Scott Boulevard and Muscatine Avenue on the 21st at about 5:15pm but fled from the scene. According to police, Orozco blew through several stop signs and reached speeds of over 90 miles per hour.
The 2019 Dodge Ram Orozco was operating was reported stolen out of Utah.
During the pursuit, Orozco allegedly squealed his tires several times, weaved in and out of traffic and jumped the curb, driving through a couple of back yards and running into a home before allegedly fleeing on foot.
Officers allegedly located a 9 millimeter pistol in the stolen vehicle.
Multiple additional charges were added to Orozco’s warrants on December 22nd. He was finally apprehended and booked into the Johnson County Jail early Tuesday morning.
He’s been charged with five counts of forgery, unauthorized use of a credit card, 3rd degree burglary, interference with official acts, driving while barred as a habitual offender, eluding, first degree theft, and dominion or control of a firearm by a felon. If convicted on all charges, Orozco could be sentenced to over 51 years in prison.