Lang
3/27/22
A West Liberty man allegedly reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour as he fled from Johnson County deputies early Sunday morning.
A 2002 Acura RSX being driven by 19-year-old Khonethavanh Lovan of West Liberty was reportedly speeding southbound on Highway 1 near Morse Road just after 1:15am, travelling 81 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone. The deputy activated his lights and siren, and at one point Lovan reportedly slowed down as if he were going to pull over. But he allegedly sped back up and continued fleeing the officer, reaching speeds of well over 100 miles per hour.
The deputy terminated the pursuit for safety reasons, but he was able to use the license plate information to identify Lovan. West Liberty Police later found Lovan at his East 6th Street residence. His car allegedly smelled of burnt marijuana, and a green leafy substance was found inside the vehicle. Investigators say Lovan admitted he had smoked marijuana earlier in the day. His driving status was listed as not valid.
When asked why he fled from the deputy, Lovan allegedly said he “didn’t want to deal with the situation.”
Lovan is charged with Eluding, Driving While Denied or Revoked and Possession of a Controlled Substance. If convicted on all charges, he faces a maximum of three years in prison.