Hunter
02/22/21
A Coralville man has been arrested and faces a litany of charges after allegedly driving off while being arrested, drunk, with a firearm.
Just before 3:45am Saturday, 34-year-old Antonio Russell of Holiday Road was stopped after the Ford Taurus he was operating left the roadway and struck a snowbank. He was observed with bloodshot watery eyes, slurred speech, and an odor of ingested alcohol.
While speaking with Russell, he allegedly drove off at a high rate of speed and was followed by the officer with lights and siren activated. The chase ended when Russell hit a light pole at the intersection of First Avenue and the Coralville Strip.
After being given orders to put his hands up, Russell allegedly threw a handgun and its magazine out the window. It was recovered and discovered to be a FNH Five-Seven with a live round in the chamber. Police say he refused to keep his hands up, instead texting on his phone. Once out of the car, he was instructed to walk backwards away from the vehicle, but walked towards the officers.
Russell refused field testing or any evidenciary chemical testing, so a warrant was obtained for a blood draw. A check of his driving records showed two previous OWI’s and his status as barred. He also has a felony conviction from 2008.
Russell faces charges including OWI 3rd Offense, Dominion or Control of a Firearm as a Felon, Driving while Barred as a Habitual Offender, Eluding, Possession of a Weapon while Intoxicated, Driving while License Denied or Revoked, Interference with Official Acts, and Driving while Suspended. If convicted on all counts, Russell could be sentenced to over 15 years in prison.