Lang
5/1/22
A man who drove his car into the Iowa River near Hills while trying to escape from sheriff’s deputies is now accused of breaking into a nearby home just days earlier.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office says security video shows 43-year-old Francisco Nunez of Muscatine pull his GMC Envoy onto a property on the 4300 block of 520th Street…just east of the Iowa River…just before 2pm on April 4th. Nunez can be seen putting the hood of his car up, then begin looking around the area. Nunez is then seen entering the garage and leaving with several items, including an air compressor and a chainsaw. The total estimated value of the stolen property is $2,230. The video then shows Nunez drive away east on 520th Street.
Two days later, Nunez allegedly tried burglarizing another property near Hills, but a call to 9-1-1 touched off a brief police chase that ended with Nunez driving the same GMC Envoy down the boat ramp at the Hills Access and into the Iowa River. Nunez was rescued by the Johnson County Metro Dive Team and charged with Operating While Intoxicated – 2nd Offense, Eluding 2nd Offense, Driving While Barred, 3rd Degree Attempted Burglary, and numerous traffic violations. If convicted on all charges, Nunez faces a maximum of 16 years in prison.
Nunez now faces charges of 3rd Degree Burglary and 2nd Degree Theft relating to the first burglary. If convicted on those charges, he faces a maximum of ten years in prison.